A former member of the House of Representatives Aviation Committee, Chidi Nwogu, has described Air Peace’s inaugural flight from Abuja to London Heathrow Airport as a milestone for Nigeria’s aviation sector.
Speaking ahead of the airline’s maiden Abuja–London flight scheduled for Sunday, October 26 (today), Nwogu, in a statement, said the development represented a new chapter in Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen local participation on lucrative international routes.
“I am delighted to be among aviation stakeholders scheduled for Air Peace’s maiden flight from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport to London Heathrow. This is a significant step in our aviation history and a win for Nigerian operators.”
Nwogu commended the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, for ensuring fairness in the implementation of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement, which paved the way for a Nigerian airline to operate on the route previously dominated by foreign carriers.
“The minister’s resilience and insistence on equity have created a positive environment for local airlines with the potential to expand into international markets,” he added.
He urged Air Peace and other domestic carriers to sustain high operational standards and explore opportunities within the West African sub-region.
“Air Peace and other Nigerian airlines should look into routes from Abuja to cities within West Africa. Some of these short routes are still being monopolised by non-Nigerian carriers and attract fares higher than some European destinations,” Nwogu said.
The former lawmaker also linked the milestone to the government’s broader “Nigerian First Project”, which seeks to promote local enterprise across sectors.
He cited the Nigerian Automotive Industry Bill, sponsored by Senator Patrick Ndubueze, as another example of the government’s efforts to strengthen domestic production.
“When passed into law, the Bill will encourage ministries and agencies to patronise locally made products,” he noted.
Nwogu, who currently serves on the Governing Council of the African Aviation and Aerospace University, added, “I look forward to satisfactory preflight handling, onboard services, and arrival procedures comparable to global best practices.”
