The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has affirmed the Nigerian government’s support for Air Peace in response to recent allegations of safety violations by the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (UKCAA) at Gatwick Airport.
In a press statement titled “Alleged Safety Violations By Air Peace At Gatwick Airport, United Kingdom,” Keyamo emphasized that Air Peace, as the Nigerian flag carrier on the London route, enjoys full governmental backing in its operations.
Keyamo assured that the safety concerns raised have been satisfactorily resolved by Air Peace’s management and have been closed by UK authorities. He stated, “My attention has been drawn to recent publications citing some issues allegedly relating to possible safety violations at Gatwick Airport by Air Peace Airlines raised by inspectors of the UKCAA.
We want to reiterate that Air Peace Airlines, as the Nigerian flag carrier on the London route, enjoys the full backing and support of the Nigerian Government in its operations on that route.”
The Minister also highlighted that he had been reliably briefed by the Acting Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) about the resolution of the safety issues.
“I am informed that the safety issues raised have since been adequately addressed by the Management of Air Peace and promptly closed to the satisfaction of the UK authorities,” Keyamo added.
Keyamo further reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting Air Peace and other Nigerian carriers on international routes in their pursuit of operational excellence. “I wish to state categorically that the federal government has full confidence in the continued safety of the operations of all Nigerian flag carriers designated on different international routes, including Air Peace, and will continue to support and nudge them forward in pursuit of world-class operational excellence.”
He concluded by stating that the Nigerian government will provide all necessary assistance to ensure the success of local airlines on international routes, affirming, “For the avoidance of doubt, the federal government of Nigeria has put its full weight and might behind all the local airlines designated on international routes in their endeavors in prosecuting these operations and shall provide all the necessary assistance and cooperation to ensure their success. Air Peace is no exception in this regard.”
