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Amid a raging ticket price war with its foreign competitors on the Lagos-London route, excited Nigerian travellers have continued to relive their memorable experiences on Air Peace, urging the flag carrier to trudge on and consolidate its operations on various offshore destinations.
One of such impressed travellers is Hadiza Oyewumi, Head, Strategic Communication (South), Bank of Industry (BoI).
In an article shared with the media, Oyewumi said she was thrilled on a recent Air Peace flight from Jeddah to Kano where she met Governor Lawal of Zamfara State, several dignitaries and high networth personalities many of whom, in the past, would have flown Emirates, Qatar Airways, Ethiopian, Turkish Airlines or other foreign airlines on the Jeddah-Kano or Lagos-Jeddah routes.
Oyewumi, like thousands of other enthusiastic travellers, insist the time as come to grow Nigerian brands especially when their operations meet set international standards.
She said: “My overall impression during the five and half hour flight was that Nigerians are increasingly appreciating the need to patronise Nigerian flag carriers. As I looked round at the Jeddah airport, I decided to engage them. I introduced myself and got them to take a group photograph before we boarded.
The Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal Dare, was so down to earth. I had to check again to be sure he was the one.
“Another personality that made an impression on me was the husband of the Deputy Governor of Ogun state, Bode Oyedele. I was impressed by his humility.
Others on board the flight were serving members of the House of Representatives, Rahim Olawuyi, former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Chairman, Agege Local Government, Ganiyu Egunjobi, Chief Whip, Ogun State House of Assembly, Omolola Bakar and Senator Musiliu Obanikoro. They were all enthusiastic about Air Peace”, Oyewumi explained.
She said it was soothing to see a unanimous consensus among Nigerians from all parts of the country to firmly support, patronise and protect the Nigerian brand, Air Peace.
“Governor Dauda Lawal said he is a strong advocate of growing Nigeria and would prefer to point out lapses that require improvements to Allen Onyema rather than patronise other airlines on routes that are operated by Air Peace.
“I was deeply touched and felt proud of being a Nigerian. And as a development banker who is inclined to nurture home-grown brands to become global players, I took note and pictures to encourage others to also embrace initiatives designed to make Nigeria great again by patronising and supporting Nigerian brands.If we patronise Nigerian firms and products, demand for foreign currencies would drop. The naira will be strengthened, more jobs would be created and all of us will benefit from the attendant positive multiplier effects.
“As a development practitioner, I kept pondering on the extensive positive developmental impact that Air Peace’s foreign flight operations are having on the Nigerian economy. Nigerian made snacks and drinks as well as Nigerian cuisine were served on board the flight. I reasoned that they were indeed giving expression to President Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda”, she added.
She also called for the full support of Air Peace by the citizens and the government to ensure that the ongoing price war on the Lagos-London route, designed as a grand conspiracy by foreign airlines to muscle out Air Peace does not stand.
