By Aondowase Agabi
Air Peace, Nigeria’s biggest Indigent airline, has threatened a showdown with Cote D’Ivoire if it continues to refuse access to Air Peace to operate in that country.
Air Peace consequently gave the country ten days maximum beginning from April 18th, 2023 to grant it access or face the consequences of its next line of action.
Mr. Allen Oyeama, the Air Peace Chairman/CEO gave the threat Tuesday in Abuja while making a comment at the Single African Air Transport Market Pilot Implementation Project (SAATM – PIP) Cluster 1 Coalition Roadshow (Nigeria).
He said whilst Nigeria open its aviation sector to almost free access to African countries, other African countries, especially West African countries have continued to deny Nigeria carriers access to their countries adding that the practice is unhealthy, evil, unacceptable and will be challenged henceforth.
He also said the actions by Cote D’Ivoire and African countries like Togo and Benin Republic is against the principle of reciprocity contained in the bilateral air services agreements (BASAs).they signed.
“Today is the 18th of April. If by 28th of April, 2023, if Cote D’Ivoire refuse to honour the reciprocity they signed, they will see what will happen thereafter. Whoever knows them should tell them. And any other Nigerian who wants to go there must go there” he said.
He further stated that the sky is too big for African airlines to fight adding that Nigeria is the best market for them.
He said the Nigerian airlines are not against open skies but the implementation must be fair to all concerned.
He noted that Nigeria lacks nationalism which is why other countries take advantage of her.
He also complained about unfair billings by Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA).
He said the spirit of Pan Africanism.must be activated and not an unfair business practices.
