September 29, (THEWILL) – In addition to priority boarding policy for military officers, initiated by Air Peace in 2022, the airline is considering to offer the military rebate on flight tickets.
Commending the Nigerian military for their sacrifices in keeping the country together and defending it against territorial aggression, Chairman of Air Peace, Barrister Allen Onyema, who disclosed the airline’s decision, said the specifics will be announced soon for both serving and retired officers.
Onyema gave the hint on Thursday, September 28, 2023, when he was being conferred with a Doctor of Management Science Degree by the Nigerian Defence Academy, at its 33rd Convocation Ceremony in Kaduna.
The Air Peace boss described the Nigerian military as one of the best in the world and charged the new graduands of the academy to deploy the newly acquired skills and knowledge to defend the country and contribute to its development.
While lauding the military for their huge sense of pride, patriotism and nationalism, Onyema added: “I have to say it categorically that despite the challenges, the Nigerian military still remains one of the best in the world. You have to consider what they go through and the circumstances in which they operate. You have to consider the stigmatisation of Nigeria as a country and that makes it impossible for the Nigerian government to access the right military equipment where the foreign powers stop us from getting it; yet the Nigerian military is performing. And we have to applaud them. They face all manner of adversity. They are fighting on all fronts- both territorial borders and in confronting the rising insecurity in the country. These are the people making the sacrifices for the security of our nation.
“When we started Air Peace in 2014, I announced that officers of the Nigerian military- serving and retired- should be flying at 10,000 naira then. In 2022, we also introduced a priority boarding policy for military officers to honour them. For all they are doing for the country, we need to motivate them. We also have decided to offer the military rebate on flight tickets and the specifics will be announced soon for both serving and retired officers. We’ll also work with this institution. I’ll discuss with the commandant and his executives to see what I can do for this institution.”
Stressing the need for Nigerians to embrace broad nationalism, Onyema asserted: “We should begin to engender broad nationalism where every Nigerian will be proud to say I’m a Nigerian instead of talking about their ethnicities. The earlier we fight for each other, the better for us. We want a situation where you profess the unity of the country in truth and in practice. It’s very important.”
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
