Allen Onyema, CEO of Air Peace Airlines has sent his pilots, crew and plane to airlift Nigerians, mostly students in the war torn Sudan to evacuate the stranded Nigerian citizens.
In a statement released on Monday, Onyema said the stranded Nigerians in Sudan need urgent assistance. He stated that if Nigerians could be moved to a neighbouring country the airline would fly there and evacuate them, as Sudan’s airspace is closed from civil aviation flights.
“I am compelled to help because Nigeria cannot afford to lose her citizens in that country. It would be my own commitment to making sure that the stranded Nigerians in the war-torn country are safe.
“Everything must not be left for the government alone, especially as the situation calls for urgency and immediate action,”he said.
Allen Onyema’s act of kindness in risking the lives of his people to save others, underscores patriotism.
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Findings indicate that during COVID-19 period, Nigeria’s indigenous carrier, Air Peace carried out series of evacuation flights both inbound and outbound and helped to bring back stranded Nigerians. Information from the airline showed that it brought medical supplies for the federal government from Turkey; later went back to the country and brought in evacuees; on April 7, 2020 it flew to China to bring in medical supplies and experts for the federal government.
Air Peace evacuated Indians from Nigeria and brought in Nigerian on May 31, June 4, 13; July 4 and July 8, 2020. The airline evacuated Nigerians from Turkey on July 5, Uganda and Kenya, July 2, South Africa, June 25, evacuated Nigerians from the UK on June 28 and flew to Thailand and Malaysia where it brought in 310 Nigerians on July 11, 2020.
On April 7, 2020, Air Peace flew to china to bring in 15 Chinese medical experts and medical supplies. It flew back on May 30 to bring in 268 Nigerians, again on May 29 when it brought in 301 Nigerians. So, Air Peace brought back over 4, 302 Nigerians from different parts of the country since the lockdown.
However, it can be noted that Nigerians have just emerged from a tribally and religiously divided election. Sadly, the election was witnessed outright display of hatred against a particular tribe. The Igbos were hunted down to their place of business and violently harassed, their shops burnt down and their lives endangered. While this was going on, I wept because I knew that a day shall come when Nigerians shall cry for help and the help may only come from that same tribe hated with passion by many especially those in the corridor of power.
The Nigerians stranded in Sudan are mostly from other parts of the country and the help they need is coming from the hated part of Nigeria. Let this humble all of us. Hate nobody. Stop the tribalism. You need me, I need you. Okon needs Abubakar, Segun needs Nnamdi, Mary needs Aisha, And vice versa.
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You may win the presidency while I control the economy. You need me and I need you. Your Candidate may win the gubernatorial seat while I have the ideas and contacts to develop the state, you need me, I need you.
Allen Onyema is proof that Nigeria can work if we throw away tribalism and hold one another’s hands in difficult times.
My name is Charles Awuzie and I personally thank Allen Onyema for his kind gesture. I hope this helps to heal Nigeria.
I copied the above write up from a WhatsApp post to help you understand the evacuation story better.
One of Nigeria’s indigenous carriers owned by Chief Allen Onyeama, Air Peace has offered to evacuate Nigerians stranded in Sudan free of charge.
The airline stated this amidst the rival war ongoing in the North-East African country.
Air Peace noted that Nigerian students and others stranded in the war-racked nation need our help.
According to Onyema, Nigerians in Sudan could be moved to a neighbouring country, while Peace Air would fly there and evacuate them.
Onyema said, “I am compelled to help because Nigeria cannot afford to lose her citizens in that country. It would be my own commitment to making sure that the stranded Nigerians in the war-torn country are safe.
“Everything must not be left to the government alone, especially as the situation calls for urgency and immediate action.
“Again, Air Peace is willing to evacuate Nigerians stranded in Sudan free of charge if the government can get them to a safe and secure airport in any of the neighbouring countries bordering Sudan.
“Everything must not be left for government and government alone. It will be a privilege and honour of tremendous pride that we will be out there to give every Nigerian stranded in Sudan a sense of pride and oneness in their country.
“We are very ready to do it immediately. No time wasting. Any action that would promote national pride, national cohesion, peace and unity, we are for it. Again, we have no apologies for believing in our nation and loving the nation despite certain national challenges.
“If they are moved to Kenya or Uganda or any other country, we will move in to get them out. Some parents have started calling on us to help. We are ready to do this again and again.”
Shehu Sani Reacts to Air Peace Evacuation Offer – blast religious bigots
Former Lawmaker, Shehu Sani has reacted to Air Peace airline willingness to help Nigerian citizens stranded in war-torn Sudan.
Recall Onyema had earlier said “I am compelled to help because Nigeria cannot afford to lose her citizens in that country. It would be my own commitment to making sure that the stranded Nigerians in the war-torn country are safe.”
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Reacting to Onyema’s offer, Sani stated that making decisions based on religion and ethnicity would do the nation no good.
He recalled how certain individuals were not happy that Air Peace was allowed to fly pilgrims to Saudi Arabia because it is owned by a Christian Igbo man.
Shehu Sani stated that the same airline which was criticized because it is owned by a Christian Igbo is now ready to help out those in Sudan who are Muslims.
He wrote, “Some people were not happy when Air Peace owned by a Christian Igbo man was considered to Air lift pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
“They reasoned that the ones owned by Muslims should be. Today, most of those students stranded in the Sudan are Muslims; I have been to Sudan and I sponsored many students to study there. The Airline owned by the Christian Igbo is there to freely fly them out of danger. Eye glasses tinted with ethnicity or religion will never give you a clearer vision of any plain object.”
Don’t forget In 2019, during xenophobic attacks in South Africa, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Air Peace volunteered to send an aircraft to South Africa to evacuate Nigerians who wished to return to the country, free of charge.
Latest reports have it that Air Peace, Africa’s largest Private airline crew are already in Cairo Egypt waiting for the arrival of Nigerians who have been evacuated by buses provided by the Nigerian Govt from the International University of Africa in Khartoum, Sudan to bring them back to the country
