New tax law’ll cripple Nigerian airlines if implemented – Onyema
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Air Peace, Allen Onyema, has revealed that the proposed new tax law taking effects on January 1, 2026, will cripple airlines in the country, if implemented.
Onyema, while speaking on behalf of the Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON) at the 100 years celebration of Nigeria Aviation in Abuja, noted that new tax law, if allowed to stand will crumble the industry which have over the years been under demonised status.
Onyema said: “first of all, I want to pay my respect to the zonal and national leaders. Nigeria has never, ever enjoyed the kind of support we are having today in the aviation industry. I want you to think back to the years before now and compare what we are getting today as airlines.
“We are the ones who truly bear the burden as airlines. We are the ones to tell the story whether it is good or bad and no other person can tell it better than the airlines.
“And here, I represent not just a piece of us; I represent the entire AON as one of their leaders. And when we speak, we speak without fear. We are not afraid to criticize when necessary. We are not afraid to stand up against anything when necessary. And when it is necessary for us to applaud and commend, we do so with equal vigour.”
According to him, “And today, I want to celebrate our President, and I really do not care whose ox is gored, because this President has helped the aviation industry, first and foremost, with the kind of appointment he made. I remember when I met him in the Villa, I told him—several times, clearly enough for him to hear and understand—that someday, Mr. President, you will thank God Almighty for allowing you to appoint Mr. Keyamo to this position.”
He stated that before now, the industry was almost dead, noting: “Nigerian airlines were suffering under a demonised status. We were all demonised as not being effective. We were all demonised as lacking capacity. We were all demonised as if nothing good could come out of us. Nobody had faith in us
Speaking further, He stressed that there is still more to be done, adding: “and we are very hopeful that with the kind of square peg in a square hole that we have, success is beckoning at the end.
“So, we thank Mr. President for giving those marching orders to his able Minister, and we thank the able Minister for seeing it as necessary to carry out the vision and aspirations of the administration that appointed him.”
Also, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo in his remarks, urged veterans who over the years shaped the industry to continue to lend their voices for its growth.
He said: “We thought it fits that we needed to honour all the veterans who had held this industry, who had suffered for this industry, who had worked hard to build this industry before we got here.”
