FG Threatens to Review Air Agreements with UK, Others over 'Unacceptable Treatment 'of Nigerian Carriers

•Says UK denied Air Peace landing rights despite making necessary payments

By Adedayo Akinwale
The federal government Sunday said it would review its Air agreements with various countries as a result of the unacceptable treatment of Nigerian carriers during the coronavirus pandemic.

It specifically lamented that the United Kingdom government withdrew the landing rights of Air Peace close to departure time for the evacuation of stranded Nigerians despite making all necessary payments.

The Nigeria High Commission, London, had in a statement said that the evacuation of stranded Nigerians scheduled for Monday was rescheduled for Tuesday after the UK government denied Air Peace Landing permit.

But the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, in series of tweets from his verified Twitter handle explained reasons behind the rescheduled evacuation flight from the United Kingdom.

He said that having been allowed to carry out one very successful evacuation of Nigerians from London at very low fares, Air Peace in coordination with the Nigerian government and full knowledge of the UK authorities scheduled two additional flights.

Onyeama added : “All the arrangements were made including payments, only for the UK authorities to withdraw landing rights close to departure despite strong representations by the Nigerian Government including pointing out the hardship that would be caused to hundreds of Nigerian evacuees.


“Air Peace could have just refunded the passengers but exceptionally, patriotically and altruistically agreed to find an alternative carrier acceptable to the UK authorities to carry out the
“The Nigerian Government will review its Air agreements with various countries as a result of the unacceptable treatment of Nigerian carriers during this pandemic.”

Onyeama noted that these higher fares could legitimately have been passed on to the evacuees but Air Peace bore this huge cost itself.”

He said the explanation became imperative in order to let the aggrieved evacuees know that the objects of their grievances should neither be Air Peace nor the Nigerian government.

The minister said they should rather be eternally grateful to Air Peace.

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/07/13/fg-threatens-to-review-air-agreements-with-uk-others-over-unacceptable-treatment-of-nigerian-carriers/

UK denies Air Peace landing rights to evacuate stranded Nigerians

An Air Peace airline flight deployed to evacuate stranded Nigerians in the UK has been denied landing rights.

A statement released by the Nigeria high commission in London on Sunday, the evacuation flights from London Heathrow to Abuja and Lagos will now depart on Tuesday, July 14.

According to the statement, the flights will now depart from Gatwick Airport aboard an Air Partner flight.

“This is to inform all prospective evacuees that have been issued tickets for the Air Peace flights departing on July 13, 2020, from London Heathrow to Abuja and Lagos, that due to landing clearance issues, the flights have been rescheduled to depart on Tuesday, July 14, 2020, at 10:00am from Gatwick Airport,” the statement read.

“Furthermore, Air Peace Airlines has contracted Air Partner to operate the flight on its behalf and any other information will be communicated directly to the passengers.

“In light of the foregoing, the mission wishes to extend its appreciation to the chairman and management of Air Peace Limited for ensuring that our stranded nationals in the United Kingdom returm home safely. ”

The federal government has been airlifting nationals stranded in different countries across the world back home after several countries imposed travel restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

On Saturday, 270 Nigerians and two Egyptian nationals were evacuated from Cairo; one amongst many evacuation flights that have already been carried out.

https://www.thecable.ng/uk-denies-air-peace-flights-landing-rights-to-evacuate-stranded-nigerians

Ok

The end is near

Another week,

Another bombshell

Another political disgrace

Another mass murder and killings by bandits

It's not going to end until Jesus of Judah comes back

All right

If it's for medicals, they should reject Nigerians.
We die here las las...
I know some big politicians will start sneaking out for medical treatments.

We go dey alright Las Las

Local man just dey so see when e go be

Nice move

Hope Onyeama hasn't done UK fake transfer

Ok, people in government should be mindful of their activities because the way they behave is the way nations will engage the Nigeria nation, when u will run to UK for ordinary malaria, u are also deflating the grace of the nation, UK can't try this with US carriers... The case of magu is an example of how terrible our government officials are, FBI gave him award of excellence but AGF without query recommended his suspension, and we are all made to bash the guy... But what if he is been persecuted by this guys for his unwillingness to compromise his constitutional power. The way our corrupt politicians and those who have cases with EFCC are celebrating the arrest of magu you will know that it suits thier desires ... have we ever given it a thought? Is a pity the way we treat ourselves in this country....

Nawa oo

UK denies Airpeace,
Canada denied Airpeace.

Thunder fire all of them Der....
I will continue to blame both present and past leaders of this country.. Those that purged this beautiful nation into this mess of disrespect from other shithole countries..

On a normal setting if all waz well those two useless countries no go fit match Naija wealth..

Yes. Good for airpeace and Nigerian Government!!. You think you are smart? You closed your international airport but sending your own airline to do business and cash out from this pandemic with higher ticket price!! Emirate charges 60% of what your so called airpeace is charging the stranded Nigerians. Evacuation should only be done once, every other Evacuation is for business , all other countries have opened their borders except Nigeria due to corruption-filled coronavirus statistics. If air peace really want to help, FG should do that free of charge without asking them to pay such exorbitant flight fees and UK Government will be happy to give them the landing permit

I think that Nigerian foreign policy as interpreted by our leaders is very soft towards certain nations and definitely not in the interest of our nation and people.

Nah today?

So they not aware we’ve become a laughing stock around the world?

Our foreign policy is rubbish, they come here make money - we treat them right as foreigners, they reciprocated by treating us like trash. Yet nothing happens.

Air peace, may God continue to give you peace in the Air, Nigeria Amaka!

hope reviewing the agreement won't turn to another looting?

Nigeria must generally review her foreign policy, it's no use making Africa the centre of our foreign policy, when a number of these countries keep disrespecting us. That said, we will never be respected unless we get our acts together. There is no reason why South Africa should be ahead of us in infrastructure, tourism and FDI generally; don't bother raising the excuse of huge population, that in itself should have been longed checked.

For me, restoring the glory of Nigeria begins with voting in technocrats as Adesina, Okonjo Iweala, Kingsley Moghalu or Yahaya Bello ( ) at the helm of affairs. Next is like China once did, shut the country from the rest of the world and develop her through human resource development. We must invest more in education, technology. We've talked too much about agriculture, it's no use when you know the youths are not interested. We must develop other areas we enjoy comparative advantage in.

I no get wetin I wan tell UK and co. Let's just get our sh.it together.

G

WHERE ARE THE CHINESE BROUGHT INTO THE COUNTRY TO FIGHT THIS PANDEMIC?

Hmm

Until you take yourself seriously, nobody else would. Nigeria should be serious or remain a toy in the International community.

Where is the British flight we seized for violating the lockdown?

If our leaders can stand up and say enough is enough to dis stupid countries dah portray demselves as mighty States but are nothing, Africans will be respected all over the world. Covid is a blessing in disguise to Africans only if our leaders can stand on der own. I still blv dah if we look inward and appreciate what we have, Africa will provide cure for covid. And if we can achieve dis, d whole world will bow to Africa. We are uniquely made, We have best leaders, and we also blessed by almighty God. Our only problems are d foreigners. Dey use us against ourselves. Africa shall rise again. God bless Africa

Air peace naturally should not have commercial flights to UK but it's an emergency and in pandemic so that should stand for something I guess..

I said it before that the owner of Airpeace is a very smart business man, taking advantage of the crises to expand their coverage in terms of countries they can land.

The man started with South Africa, when the issue of Xenophobic attack came up. He sent flight to pick up Nigerians. Whereas, Airpeace do not have landing rights, but it was subsequently granted

Airpeace did same by landing in China

They tried it with Canada and Uk, but both countries are smart and realized what it means.

You can't blame UK or Canada. Things needs to be done properly and Airpeace is just trying to take advantage and make money.

Emirates Airline and Ethiopian Airlines are charging far lesser than what Airpeace is charging Nigerians. Hence, Airpeace is making money through this means and not any CSR.

STENON:
Yes. Good for airpeace and Nigerian Government!!. You think you are smart? You closed your international airport but sending your own airline to do business and cash out from this pandemic with higher ticket price!! Emirate charges 60% of what your so called airpeace is charging the stranded Nigerians. Evacuation should only be done once, every other Evacuation is for business , all other countries have opened their borders except Nigeria due to corruption-filled coronavirus statistics. If air peace really want to help, FG should do that free of charge without asking them to pay such exorbitant flight fees and UK Government will be happy to give them the landing permit

We are too sentimental to read between the lines.

Airpeace is the winner in all these.

The man is cashing in big time and also expanding their international coverage. Once these countries grant landing rights, Airpeace automatically start international flights to these countries. Moreso, Airpeace is charging exorbitant price, compared to other airlines