The chairman and managing director of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema has said that the airline was on standby and ready to evacuate Nigerians from South Africa as soon as the Nigerian High Commission in gives approval.
The airline had, on Wednesday September 11, evacuated 187 out of 640 who had volunteered to leave South Africa.
The evacuation became necessary following xenophobia attacks on foreigners, particularly Nigerians living in South Africa.
Speaking in an interview, Onyema said the airline’s Boeing 777 aircraft flew to South Africa on Tuesday to airlift the first batch of 320 Nigerians.
“We expected to pick about 320 passengers there but…the South African government through their immigration officials frustrated us and the Nigerian High Commission informed us that they have over 700 registrants willing to come back home.
“So we decided to do the first batch with 320 but by the time they registered only 20, they told us that their system broke down,” he said.
Onyema said Air Peace aircraft arrived in South Africa 4am Wednesday and was supposed to depart by 8am.
“The aircraft didn’t leave until about 4:30 pm. That is about 10 to 12 hours delay.
“It was not the fault of Air Peace; they deliberately were frustrating us….
“At the end of the day, we could only airlift 187, inclusive of about 87 children. We are ready if the South African government agreed.
“We are waiting on the Nigerian high commission to inform us the next time we can return.
“I have enough pilots to…go back to South Africa. We are ready to evacuate every Nigerian to the latter and free of charge so that we can encourage other Nigerians to always look at ourselves as one nation telling others that irrespective of our differences, nobody can bend us, nobody from outside can to separate us,” he said.
He said the evacuation would cost the airline about N300 million but stressed that the evacuees would not pay for the flight.
He said he would be more satisfied to leave enduring legacy.
“I believe l cannot go to my grave with my bank account and fat wallet. But l can go to the grave comfortably and peacefully with my legacies. I want to implore all Nigerians to be their brothers’ keepers.
“l am just thankful to God for giving me the heart to be able to take that decision.
“It is something l did heartily, happily for my nation, and in support of the government.
“I am happy also that the president was appreciative of what Air Peace has done and had asked every Nigerian, who is willing to leave that enclave to come back home,” said Onyema.
Similarly, the senior pastor of Omega Fire Ministry, Apostle Johnson Suleiman, has offered pay airfare for 20 Nigerians willing to leave South Africa.
“I just heard that 900 Nigerians want to return home from South Africa. “I have asked for flight tickets to be bought for 20 Nigerians in South Africa, who want to return home. I will take care of the cost. Please, register at our church in Johannesburg. We will airlift more by God’s grace. God keep you all alive,” Suleiman tweeted.
Meanwhile, the director general of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Muhtar Usman, has commended Onyema for taking up the challenge to rescue Nigerians from the killing field in South Africa.
Usman who described Onyema’s volunteerism as a “significant contribution from the aviation sector” said: “First, it is a very welcome development that a local operator has offered to do this for free. It is good that a Nigerian carrier has the capacity to do this and it is a very good corporate social responsibility to assist Nigeria and Nigerians in need. It is a very big contribution by civil aviation in Nigeria,” Usman said.
Similarly, the managing director of Top Brass Aviation Capt. Roland Iyayi, commended the airline for the humanitarian gesture.
“I was sitting next to the Air Peace chairman, Onyema when he made the offer to the minister of foreign affairs. What he has done is worthy and I believe the industry has benefitted so much from him and we have not seen the best of him yet,” said Iyayi.
Meanwhile, the president general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Mr. John Nwodo has urged the southeast governors to assist those returning from South Africa
“The south southeast governors must put things on ground to assist those returning from South Africa, the bulk of who are Igbo people. We call on them to use this opportunity to put infrastructure that will cushion the effect of their unplanned dislocation,” he said.
