Bill proposed to make Air Peace the airline of first choice for National Assembly members

AIR Peace could be on the way to becoming Nigeria's national carrier after a member of the Federal House of Representatives moved a motion for his colleagues in the National Assembly to choose it as their preferred airline when travelling.

Over the last week, Air Peace has been in the news after its chairman Allen Onyeama organised the evacuation of Nigerians from South Africa in response to the growing xenophobic attacks against them. Yesterday, Mr Onyeama was invited to the National assembly in Abuja where he was feted by lawmakers who praised his initiative and recommended him for a national honour.

A motion was subsequently moved by Hon Abulrasak Namdas of Adamawa State that Mr Onyema should be honoured with a higher national award and that members should make Air Peace their favourite airline. Consequently, the speaker directed the clerk of the House immediately transmit the resolution of the House to the president.

Mr Onyema told members of the House of Representatives that he paid a high price for airlifting Nigerians from South Africa. While addressing the House, he revealed that he just got landing right to South Africa before the xenophobic crisis but damned the consequences to carry out the airlift.

“I did not do it spontaneously nor did I do it for publicity, I had to mortgage my landing rights in south Africa because I just got the landing right before the crisis. I did not give a damn, I never did, because I know that I will not go to heaven with any dime,” Mr Onyeama said.

He also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for acting in a mature manner in the face of provocation and also commended the Nigerian high commissioner to South Africa. According to Mr Onyeama, would not have been able to do this if the federal government did not allow him to or help assemble those people for evacuation.

Mr Onyeama added: “I commend the president and commander-in-chief Muhammadu Buhari for the mature way he handled the issue of xenophobia in South Africa. In the face of very annoying provocation, our president showed maturity."