Nigeria’s political and economic affiliation with the United Kingdom dates back to the colonial era, and even beyond, the economic ties between the two nations have continued to flourish 64 years after Nigeria’s supposed independence. However, the two countries have remained unequal in a relationship heavily skewed in favour of the British despite the seemingly mutual ties.
According to data from the UK Department for Business and Trade, trade in goods and services between the UK and Nigeria stood at £6.5 billion in the four quarters leading up to the end of Q1 2024. While the UK exported £4.1 billion worth of goods to Nigeria during this period, its imports from Nigeria amounted to £2.4 billion.
Through no fault of the Brits, there are copious records to show that the UK benefits tremendously from Nigerians who spend millions of dollars every year on medical tourism, education and aviation in that country. As a matter of reality, the UK also profits significantly from the ongoing “japa” syndrome, a phenomenon so referred to in our local parlance in which Nigerian youths migrate in search of better opportunities outside the shores of the country.
In the health sector alone, it is estimated that no fewer than 26,000 Nigerian health workers are in the UK. The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) cited British government records showing that 18,224 Nigerian health workers were granted UK visas in just one year.
The “japa” trend has led to massive traffic on the Lagos/Abuja-London route, with airlines making substantial profits from passenger fares annually. The Lagos-London is perceivably the dominant route for Nigerian travelers. This route has long been dominated by British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, both UK carriers.
Enter Air Peace
The entry of Nigeria’s airline, Air Peace, founded by Allen Onyema, into the Lagos-London route has broadened the market by providing Nigerians and other travelers with a relatively cheaper alternative means of flying in and out of the UK.
Despite facing operational challenges, Air Peace and other local airlines continue to make Nigeria proud. Many Nigerians who can afford air travel rely on these local airlines, especially since the government has failed to revive a national carrier.
The nation’s closest attempt to establish a national carrier after the demise of Nigeria Airways was the ill-fated venture by former Minister Hadi Sirika. The memory of Sirika’s questionable attempts is still fresh, yet the remarkable growth of local airlines and steady improvement in the aviation sector has generated significant excitement among Nigerians.
This exhilaration was evident on March 30 when Air Peace’s inaugural direct flight from Lagos to London landed at Gatwick Airport. Nigerians celebrated the entrance of a national airline into a market previously dominated by Virgin Atlantic and British Airways.
The ‘Resistance’
However, as expected, some established airlines and perhaps some vested interests fearing a loss of passengers and revenue subtly resisted. Unfortunately, this resistance has been more persistent than anticipated. One clear example is the denial of a slot for Air Peace at London Heathrow, the UK’s primary airport.
Air Peace has made relentless efforts to secure a Heathrow slot to no avail. The airline has been confined to landing at Gatwick airport. Why should Air Peace be limited to Gatwick instead of Heathrow Airport? It is unfathomable that months after its inaugural flight, the Nigerian airline is still struggling to secure a slot at Heathrow.
It is crystal clear that these vested interests that are threatened by Onyema’s bold moves are bent on frustrating Air Peace’s entry into the UK route. This is part of the intensification of global geopolitics, the overall aim of which is to further weaken Nigeria’s economy and keep it perpetually dependent on the West.
Fundamentally, the idea is to, for a start, limit the opportunities available to Air Peace on the UK route and, in the long run, frustrate this patently patriotic Nigerian carrier out of the route.
FG’s Pushback
Fortunately, the Nigerian government has not abandoned Air Peace in this struggle. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has threatened to revoke British Airways and Virgin Atlantic slots at Lagos and Abuja airports if Air Peace is not granted a slot at Heathrow.
In a letter to the UK Transport Secretary, Keyamo emphasized that the slot allocation issue should not undermine the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the UK, which is based on reciprocity.
“It is essential for Nigerian carriers to enjoy the same reciprocity that British carriers are afforded. It is unfair for British authorities to deny Nigerian carriers such slots, which discredits both the Nigerian authorities and the nation as a whole,” the minister asserted.
Keyamo warned that if Air Peace is not allocated a slot at Heathrow, British flag carriers might face challenges accessing Nigeria’s primary airports in the next winter season unless the issue of slot allocation for Air Peace is resolved.
Keyamo’s threat must be enforced promptly to remind the UK that the principle of reciprocity subsists. There is no justification for Air Peace to still be struggling for a Heathrow slot five months after its inaugural flight in March 2024.
Why should British Airways and Virgin Atlantic operate freely at Lagos and Abuja airports while the UK denies Air Peace, the only Nigerian airline on the Lagos-London route, access to Heathrow? Has the UK forgotten that British Airways has been flying into Lagos since 1936?
It is appalling that over a century after Nigeria’s infamous encounter with the UK, trade and other relations between the two nations remain dictated by the British authorities. This explains why the UK deems it acceptable to deny Air Peace a slot at Heathrow while allowing their national carriers – BA and Virgin Atlantic – to fly in and out of Lagos and Abuja airports uninterrupted.
If the UK authority is foot-dragging in giving the only Nigerian airline, which started flying into London this year, a space in spite of having two airlines of British origin flying in and out of Nigeria’s tier-1 airports unhindered, then we don’t need anybody to tell us the extent to which these people treat us with scorn and derision.
The Nigerian government must be commended on its stance, which is crucial for protecting indigenous firms, especially those like Air Peace that have demonstrated unwavering patriotism. Air Peace has proven time and again to be a patriotic Nigerian company. Not only did it enter the London route to significantly reduce ticket prices, but has also consistently supported Nigeria and Nigerians.
During the xenophobic attacks in South Africa, Air Peace assisted greatly in evacuating Nigerians back home. The airline also provided similar assistance during the Sudan crisis, airlifting stranded Nigerians back from Sudan, as well as evacuating Nigerians from Ukraine during the Russia-Ukraine war.
Make no mistake; this is not about Allen Onyema or his Air Peace. It is about the demand for reciprocity and mutual benefit from the UK, asking that country to return Nigeria’s good gestures extended to British airlines over the years. No efforts should be spared in calling it as it is.
I salute Onyema’s unyielding spirit and enjoin him to soldier on. But above all, I applaud Minister Keyamo for promptly stepping in. He needs to ensure this matter is taken to a logical conclusion. It must be Air Peace at Heathrow or nothing else.
Air Peace must be granted a slot at the Heathrow airport, or Virgin Atlantic and British Airways should be barred from Abuja and Lagos airports as a show of reciprocity. It’s that simple. From now on, the slogan should be: ‘Air Peace in, or BA and Virgin out!’
Nigeria’s Poor Outing At Olympics
Once again, Nigeria recorded a poor outing at the Olympics, similar to the London 2012 and Seoul 1988 Games. Despite sending no fewer than 88 athletes, the nation returned without a single medal.
This abysmal performance is especially disappointing given the event’s staggering cost of N12 billion-N9 billion for the Olympics and N3 billion for the Paralympics.
In retrospect, the funds would have been better spent on providing rice as palliatives for the many hungry Nigerians, particularly the parents of malnourished children. What lessons can be learned from this disappointing performance? Your guess is as good as mine.
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