The National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN) has applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering support of Air Peace and other local airline operators.
The group stressed that Nigerians should patronise indigenous airline operators to strengthen the Naira.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Monday, the executive director of NCSCN, Comr. Blessing Akinlosotu, urged the federal government to consider honouring Air Peace with a National Honors award.
She noted Air Peace’s long track record of sincere and logical contributions to the nation, especially the recent reduction in airfare on the Lagos-London route, which has garnered support from all Nigerians and reoriented them toward indigenous patronage in air transportation.
“The federal government and all well-meaning Nigerians must rise to save our most patriotic and progressive indigenous operator, Air Peace, and other indigenous airlines, from international aero-politics and pricing warfare by foreign airlines.”
Akinlosotu said the rising profile and business strategies of Nigerian operators with impressive global flight operation records between Nigeria and other countries like China, UAE, Israel, Brazil, South Africa, and India are notable.
“Air Peace has exposed foreign operators, similar to how GLO Nigeria challenged foreign telecom providers that nearly exploited Nigerians to death in telecommunications.
Speaking further, Comr. Blessing said, “The council remains undaunted and will continue to fight for good governance, equity, justice, and excellent service delivery to all Nigerians.
“It is an acknowledged fact globally that Nigerians are among the most travelled demographics in the world. With a massive population of over 70 million persons travelling in and out of the country annually, accounting for over 70 per cent of Africa’s entire travel statistics, the aviation industry in Nigeria is a critical sector for national development.
“Air travel must be elevated to the forefront of national discourse and no longer treated as an exclusive concern of the elite or a luxury reserved for the rich. This is a crucial sub-sector of our national economy with significant implications across economic, political, and socio-cultural aspects of our national life,” Blessing said.