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THE AIR TRANSPORT INDUSTRY: What Options for Nigeria.

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By Capt Jonathan Ibrahim

Nigerians need to know that Nigeria represent one of the most attractive Countries in the World in terms of the vast passenger and Cargo potential and its continuously developing market.

To tap into this potential and serve the traveling public, Nigeria needs safe and reliable air transportation network, with the highest quality of service wich a one-man airlines or Family airlines can not offer.

Unfortunately, instead of establishing a modern air transformation system in the Country, we are witnessing a number of gang ups, opposing ‘Nigeria Air’, by those who pretend that they are experts, while others have become all- Knowing. Some also are beclouded by pride, greed and selfishness hating everything “Sirika”.

While many others make sincere and patriotic contributions. Let’s give credit, where credit is due. Not everything is bad about ‘Sirika’. The former HMA is human, so also are we.

With all humility, i would like to contribute to the hue and cry about a National Carrier. 13 African Francophone Countries tried to run ‘Air Afrique’, but failed. 10 failed attempts to float a National Carrier. Nigeria the biggest and the most populous black African country, ran aground ‘Nigeria Airways’. 130 individuals and families floated airlines in Nigeria alone and only about 15 are struggling to survive under the following reasons:
1. Currency Devaluation. 2. Steep Fuel Cost. 3. Obsolete Fleet. 4. Diminishing yields
5. Large Investment requirements. 6. Global Economic Recession. 7. Lack of Maintenance Facilities. 8. Poor Financial state to invest in Qualified Man Power, Aircraft and the associated infrastructure that is necessary for Operations. 9. Inadequate and unreliable Service to the Traveling Public and the Travel Trade.
10. A disjointed Air Transport Network, sparse route network and narrow market penetration.
11. International image at an all time loan.
12. Private initiatives (entrepreneurs) unsupported, unassisted and generally sabotaged.
13. Real and patriotic professionals across the board unable to exert much influence in industry direction settings.

Nigerians were made to believe that the industry could be managed and practiced safely and expeditiously by ‘crops of all comers’. Indeed these hands came on the scene and wrecked great havock that shook the holding struts of discipline in the industry. These one-man Airlines or family airlines did not fail because they were not technocrats in the relevant fields. They also did not fail because there was a dearth in the flow of qualitative advice and good reasoning. They failed because they rode on the scene in the chariots of political whims and caprices. Their reasoning and motivations were seriously rooted on pride, greed and selfishness. Their lack of experience hastened their slide on the negative curve, and not knowing that maintaining the Aviation business in a healthy state is capital intensive.

Nigeria is one of the developing third world countries and you dare not compare it to the developed countries. We have to learn how to walk before we run.
The saying that “Government has no business in business”, does not apply to a third world country like Nigeria. Black Africa, especially Nigeria is not ready and matured for that. Nothing stops Government from taking shares in a PPP or partnership arrangement if it is minimal. As a limited liability company can everything about it be told to the world? All informations that an individual needs to know is available at the CAC.

The World Airlines are now Merging, Partnering, Code Sharing and acquiring each other in order to establish 5 Mega Carriers. This is an International Aviation conspiracy which is held in secrecy by the advanced countries. Africa and other 3rd World Countries can only feed them regionally. Do you want Africa and Nigeria to be left out? A word is enough for the wise.

If I may ask, why can’t all the domestic and regional carriers merge or partner to float a Flag Carrier that would give the National Carrier a good and honest competition on the Domestic, Regional and International routes? If this is possible, without rivalry, Nigeria would have two carriers, one flag carrier and the other, National Carrier. Why is Nigeria any Different? Our best bet is to Partner with a Prospective African Airline because the Western or Eastern World are nor ready to help or invest in Black Africa for reasons known to us all.
With the World economic recession, affecting Africa the most, no one Man or Family airline can survive for more than 10years.

Some Airline Operators equated Nigeria Air to Monopolistic Domination. If anybody says so, what about Kenyan Airways, Japan Airways, South African Airways, Ethiopian Airways, Royal Air Moroc, British Airways, KLM, Pan Am, Air France, Saudi Air, China Airlines, to mention a few?

All these Airlines are supported directly or indirectly and also nurtured to embody the hopes and aspirations of their Mother Nations Economically. They go by Fanciful names and deceitful nomenclature, but at the end, they stop Capital Flight, sustain highly Specialized jobs and ancillary industries with untold multiplayer effects to enable them compete with other National rival Airlines.

ET, an African country has knowledgeable and experienced management, financial and maintenance capability and its a member of AFRAA, IATA, ICAO and other international bodies of wich Nigeria is a one.
One can rightly say that we are entering a crucial period for the Airline Operations in Nigeria and the World in general. Demand for air travel is continuing to grow. Good air links are extremely important to business not only in Nigeria but the region as well. Providing access to the markets, linking all the countries in the region, as well as bringing inward investment.

We need a Flag Carrier, a National Carrier and our National Pride BACK.

You are free to criticize, reject or add to my humble contribution. Thank you Sirs.

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Money Laundering: Air Peace Boss Indicted in the US for Obstruction of Justice

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They are mere allegations that’d be cleared  – Air Peace

A statement by the US Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Georgia has confirmed the indictment of Allen Onyema, Chief executive officer of Nigeria’s largest airline, Air Peace for obstruction of justice in his long-standing money laundering case.

The Statement:

Press Release

CEO of Nigerian Airline and Co-Defendant Indicted for Obstruction of Justice

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Georgia

ATLANTA – Allen Onyema, the Chairman, CEO, and founder of Air Peace, a Nigerian airline, has been charged in a superseding indictment with obstruction of justice for submitting false documents to the government in an effort to end an investigation of him that resulted in earlier charges of bank fraud and money laundering. Ejiroghene Eghagha, the airline’s Chief of Administration and Finance, was also charged for participating in the obstruction scheme, as well as in the earlier bank fraud counts.

“After allegedly using his airline company as a cover to commit fraud on the United States’ banking system, Onyema, along with his co-defendant, allegedly committed additional crimes of fraud in a failed attempt to derail the government’s investigation of his conduct,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “The diligence of our federal investigative partners revealed the defendants’ alleged obstruction scheme, making it possible for the defendants to be held accountable for their aggravated conduct of attempting to impede a federal investigation.”

“These cases represent the continued commitment of the Drug Enforcement Administration to identify and hold accountable those who engaged in fraud and money laundering,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division.

“Allegedly, Onyema and his accomplices fraudulently used the U.S. banking system in an effort to hide the source of their ill-gotten money,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Lisa Fontanette, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Atlanta Field Office. “Today’s superseding indictment is indicative of the dedication IRS-CI special agents and our law enforcement partners have, as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, to neutralize threats to the United States from criminal organizations.”

“The charges announced today demonstrate the criticality of diligence and truth in criminal justice proceedings,” said Steven N. Schrank, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations Atlanta that covers Georgia and Alabama. “HSI and our partners are committed to pursuing those who seek to exploit our nation’s financial system and any efforts to cover up illegal activity.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the superseding indictment, and other information presented in court: Onyema, a Nigerian citizen and businessman, is the CEO and Chairman of Air Peace, a Nigerian airline founded in 2013. Between 2010 and 2018, Onyema travelled frequently to Atlanta, where he opened several personal and business bank accounts. More than $44.9 million was allegedly transferred into his Atlanta-based accounts from foreign sources.

Beginning in approximately May 2016, Onyema, together with Eghagha, allegedly used a series of export letters of credit to cause banks to transfer more than $20 million into Atlanta-based bank accounts controlled by Onyema. The letters of credit were purportedly to fund the purchase of five separate Boeing 737 passenger planes by Air Peace and were supported by documents such as purchase agreements, bills of sale, and appraisals. The documents purported to show that Air Peace was purchasing the aircraft from Springfield Aviation Company LLC, a business registered in Georgia.

However, the supporting documents were allegedly fake – Springfield Aviation Company LLC was owned by Onyema and managed on his behalf by a person with no connection to the aviation business, and Springfield Aviation never owned the aircraft. The company that allegedly drafted the appraisals did not exist. Eghagha allegedly participated in this scheme as well, directing the Springfield Aviation manager to sign and send false documents to banks and even using the manager’s identity to further the fraud. After Onyema received the money in the United States, he allegedly laundered over $16 million of the proceeds of the fraud by transferring it to other accounts.

In May 2019, upon discovering that he was under investigation in the Northern District of Georgia for bank fraud, Onyema and Eghagha allegedly directed the Springfield Aviation manager to sign a key business contract, but also specifically told her to not date the document. In October 2019, Onyema allegedly caused his attorneys to present that same contract, now falsely dated as being signed on May 5, 2016 (prior to the bank fraud that began in 2016), to the government in an effort to stop the investigation and unfreeze his bank accounts.

Allen Ifechukwu Athan Onyema, 61, of Lagos, Nigeria, and Ejiroghene Eghagha, 42, of Lagos, Nigeria, were indicted on November 19, 2019, on one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, three counts of bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit credit application fraud, and three counts of credit application fraud. Additionally, Onyema was charged with 27 counts of money laundering, and Eghagha was charged with one count of aggravated identity theft. On October 8, 2024, they were both charged in a superseding indictment alleging an additional count of obstruction of justice and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. The case is criminal action number 1:19-CR-464.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictments only contain charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Commerce, and Department of Treasury are investigating this case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Garrett L. Bradford and Christopher J. Huber are prosecuting the case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

Mere Allegations – Air Peace

Meanwhile, Air Peace insists that its CEO Allen Onyema will be cleared of money laundering charges filed against him by the US.

Nigerian airline Air Peace has reaffirmed the innocence of its Chairman and CEO, Dr. Allen Ifechukwu Onyema, and Chief of Finance and Administration, Mrs. Ejiro Eghagha, following the expansion of legal charges by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

The management of the airline said they are confident that both executives will be exonerated, emphasising that these are still mere allegations with the case ongoing in court.

This came as the U.S. attorney’s office for the Northern District of Georgia filed a superseding indictment against Air Peace CEO Allen Onyema and Ejiroghene Eghagha, accusing them of submitting false documents in an effort to obstruct an ongoing federal investigation into their alleged financial crimes, adding new charges to the 2019 case that originally accused Onyema of money laundering involving more than $20 million.

Ryan Buchanan of the US attorney’s office said, “After allegedly using his airline company as a cover to commit fraud on the United States’ banking system, Onyema, along with his co-defendant, allegedly committed additional crimes of fraud in a failed attempt to derail the government’s investigation of his conduct,”

However, in a statement released on Sunday addressing public concerns, Air Peace stressed that both Dr. Onyema and Mrs. Eghagha remain innocent until proven otherwise, saying that the airline’s legal team is fully engaged and working relentlessly to ensure that justice prevails.

The statement read, “These charges levelled against our post-holders are part of an extended legal process stemming from earlier accusations of financial misdeeds that date back several years.

While the charges have been expanded, it is essential to emphasize that both Dr. Onyema and Mrs. Eghagha remain innocent and these are mere allegations, and the case is still in court. Our legal team is fully engaged with the matter and is working tirelessly to ensure that justice prevails. We remain confident that, through due process, the truth will be revealed, and our CEO and co-defendant will be exonerated.”

The company then reiterated that Dr. Onyema and his legal representatives have consistently cooperated with the relevant authorities throughout the legal process.

Air Peace then assured the public that despite the expanded charges, its daily operations, safety standards, and commitment to quality service remain unaffected.

“We want to reassure the public that these legal proceedings will not impact the safety, reliability, or day-to-day operations of Air Peace. The dedication and focus of our staff remain steadfast as we continue to provide you with the best aviation experience in Nigeria and beyond,” the statement added.

The airline expressed gratitude to its customers for their continued trust and support during this period, reassuring them of its unwavering dedication to maintaining the highest standards in aviation.

 

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Pilot Dies Mid-air flying Turkish Airlines Plane from US to Turkey

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By Ojone Grace Odaudu

A Turkish Airlines pilot has died after becoming ill on his own flight from Seattle on the north-west coast of the United States to Istanbul in Turkey.

Captain Ilcehin Pehlivan, 59, collapsed mid-air and a second pilot and co-pilot took over the controls, an airline spokesman said on X.

“When first aid to our captain on the plane was unsuccessful, the cockpit crew… decided to make an emergency landing, but he died before landing,” Yahya Ustun explained.

The Airbus A350 plane landed in New York and plans were then made to fly the passengers on to Turkey from there, he added.

Flight TK204 took off from Seattle shortly after 19:00 Pacific Time on Tuesday evening. The pilot appears to have got into trouble over the Canadian territory of Nunavut, before his colleagues took over and headed for John F Kennedy airport.

The plane landed in New York about eight hours after leaving Seattle.

Mr Pehlivan had flown with Turkish Airlines since 2007 and had been given a regular health check in early March, which found no health problem that might affect his job, the airline said.

Turkey’s air traffic controllers’ association, TATCA, said he had served the aviation community for many years and offered its condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.

The cause of the pilot’s death has not been released. Pilots have to undergo medical exams every 12 months, while those aged over 40 have to renew their medical certificates every six months.

In 2015, an American Airlines pilot aged 57 collapsed and died during an overnight flight from Phoenix to Boston.

The first officer took over and made an emergency landing in Syracuse.

At the moment, two pilots are required to be in the cockpit of a large commercial plane at all times.

However, the EU’s aviation safety agency says technology is being developed to enable a single pilot to operate large passenger planes during the cruise phase of a flight. Such a move would allow other members of the cockpit to rest, although the agency stressed there needed to be measures to ensure safety and to respond to crew becoming “incapacitated”.

The European Cockpit Association and other pilots’ groups have joined forces to challenge the initiative, arguing that reducing the crew at any time would gamble with safety on board.

(BBC)

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Hard Time Awaits Airport Rule Breakers, with Establishment of Magistrate Courts

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The Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Mrs Olubunmni kuku has announced plans to establish magistrate courts in airport premises across the country to swiftly address violations of airport rules and anti-touting regulations.

The move is aimed at ensuring a safer and more comfortable environment for genuine airport users.

The MD FAAN, made the announcement during a meeting with heads of security agencies at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) in Abuja.

The meeting was convened to brief airport stakeholders on recent developments, outline the authority’s strategic goals, and discuss ways to enhance passenger experience and facilitation.

Mrs. Kuku identified the presence of touts and loitering by members of the public as a major challenge to providing a comfortable experience for genuine airport users.

“There are people who have absolutely no business being at the airport, and they continue to create issues for us,” she said.

“We have an anti-touting taskforce, and as it is, we are going to start the prosecution onsite of those engaging in these illicit activities or loitering around the airport environment and harassing passengers. This doesn’t happen elsewhere around the world, and the airport should be a safe space.”

The MD/CE also addressed the issue of car hire operators violating processes and protocol, warning that such behavior would no longer be tolerated.

She emphasized the need to reduce manual baggage search at the international wing of the airport, proposing a process where baggage would be screened by machines, and security officials would view the contents in real-time, only pulling aside luggage that requires secondary screening.

Mrs Kuku said, “We have to streamline our efforts. We need to improve processes at the airport. This is the 21st century, and we must keep up with the times”.

She also announced that the Terminal C of the NAIA would be ready for use by December 2024, with plans to develop more international routes to take advantage of the underutilized International Terminal.

NAIA Military Airport Commander, Air Force Group Captain Abbas Hashim, thanked the MD/CE for convening the meeting and called for more regular meetings and better cooperation between the agencies and FAAN.

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