Naming two of our aircraft after Achebe, Obi of Onitsha is tribute to Nigeria’s heritage -Okonkwo, UNA chairman
Naming two of our aircraft after Achebe, Obi of Onitsha is tribute to Nigeria’s heritage -Okonkwo, UNA chairman
...Says 4 more expected in months
The executive chairman of United Nigeria Airlines (UNA), Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, has said the two newly acquired Boeing 737-800NG aircraft named in honour of the late literature icon, Prof. Chinua Achebe and the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, is a celebration of Nigeria's rich culture and heritage.
Speaking in Lagos on Thursday during the unveiling, he said both aircraft carry the Achebe name for reasons close to the airline's own history. Describing the late icon as a relative from his hometown of Ogidi, Okonkwo called him "one of the pioneers who first introduced Africa to the wider world through literature" and asked the audience to observe a moment of silence in his honour.
On the Obi of Onitsha who was present at the ceremony, Okonkwo said the royal father carries the wisdom of a traditional throne that has guided generations.
"His Royal Majesty is an elder statesman, a respected leader, hardworking and humble in his ways, deeply traditional, and loved and admired by the public. What makes this occasion different is that, for the first time in Nigeria, we have aircraft bearing these particular names that carry real significance, and that came to Nigeria only after a great deal of sacrifice, hope, and effort to give our nation a better direction in aviation," Okonkwo said.
He also revealed that both aircraft are only the first delivery from an original order of six which the airline was originally pursuing. The first two have arrived and four more are being expected.
Speaking of how Nigeria's aviation sector had, until recently, struggled to attract international financing for new aircraft, he said the country had been effectively been placed under blockade and that no international leasing or financing company wanted to deal with Nigeria. He credited the turnaround to the current aviation minister, whose visit to Boeing three years ago helped reopen access for Nigerian carriers.
Okonkwo also spoke about the financial pressure facing Nigerian carriers saying, "I won't pretend the industry isn't facing real challenges right now, largely as a result of the Middle East war. In the last three months alone, Nigerian airlines collectively have absorbed enormous losses, some carriers losing close to N10 billion. Do not be surprise when fares go up slightly going forward because we have real losses to recover from."
Okonkwo also recalled how during covid, the airline sent 23 pilots to South Africa for training and they became stranded for nine months when international airspace shut down. "They couldn't leave, some fell ill, they couldn't even go home, and yet we kept paying their hotel bills, their food, their salaries, everything. We survived that period because we kept flying,” he said.
Addressing the issue of disruptions, Okonkwo asked for understanding from the travelling public, explaining that the airline reworks flight schedules rather than cancel them outright when aircraft develop technical issues. He cited an incident in which more than a hundred passengers were stranded in Kano after a technical fault grounded an aircraft, requiring engineers to fly an empty jet to the city to inspect and certify it before it could resume service.
Okonkwo used the platform to speak on the cost of operating in Nigeria, referencing a recent IATA report ranking the country among the most expensive places in the world to run an airline. He called on the government to ensure that revenues meant for the Nigeria Civil Aviaition Authority (NCAA) remain in those accounts and are used for aviation purposes, rather than being put into the federal consolidated account and spent on unrelated budget items.
He also appealed for single-digit interest loans for airlines and closer collaboration between the Bank of Industry and commercial banks on fuel-purchase guarantees, arguing that such measures "would lead to a much healthier aviation sector, with more Nigerian operators bringing in more aircraft, to everyone's benefit."
Comments
Post a Comment