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Air Peace, others plan US routes flights

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Nigerian airlines, including Air Peace, are gearing up to launch flights to the United States soon.

This development comes as the Federal Government grants permissions and ramps up efforts to support local operators in expanding their international reach.

Recently, the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, vowed to further crash the prices of international flights.

He also explained measures taken to ensure local operators take full control of international routes in no distant future.

He said that his ministry, through the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Tinubu administration, is on course to break those barriers and make the environment conducive for both local and international airlines to strive.

A representative of the Airline Operators of Nigeria, anonymously confirmed to our Correspondent that Air Peace has been recently granted the right to fly to the US, adding that other airlines are also in the consideration process.

“The airline that the government gave the right to fly to the US routes is Airpeace. There are other airlines but Airpeace has just been recently offered that,” the representative said.

An aviation analyst and member of the aviation round table, Olumide Ohunayo, over a phone interview, expressed scepticism about the readiness of Nigerian airlines to fly US routes.

“Sincerely, we are not ready. I have not seen any of the airlines in Nigeria being capable of starting the US routes,” he said.

“They have granted some airlines permission to fly to the US. But I don’t see any of the airlines with the capacity to sustain flights to the US. Remember what they did to Virgin Atlantic when they had passengers in Virgin Nigeria and they said they will not allow Virgin Atlantic to use the Virgin Nigerian opportunity to enter into America using Virgin Nigeria. That is going to happen if we have to go and lease aircraft from any of the countries that are having bilateral issues who they think have taken enough capacity from them.”

He also cited historical challenges and potential bilateral issues, warning, “If our airlines must go, our aircraft must be owned by us. I don’t think we are ready.”

In contrast, the Chief Operating Officer of United Nigeria Airlines, Osita Okonkwo, asserted that his airline is prepared, pointing out that securing slots and permits from US authorities is the main hurdle.

“We are ready, the fleet is not the issue. The issue is the counterparty’s process of getting slots.

“You can have the fleet and they can delay giving you slots. We are designated to go to the US routes but we have to get slots first. So we are doing the process. Slot and permit are major issues.

“It is a process to go through the Federal Aviation Administration of America. We have to get all those, and then we move to the next stage of going to the airport to get slots. Fleet is not the problem because many people will want to give you aircraft to do it.

Meanwhile, Chief Operating Officer of Ibom Air, George Uriesi, stated that his airline has no plans to operate outside Africa. “Africa is where we are interested in. Those whose plan is to go outside Africa, that is for them and not for us,” he said.

Also, the Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Obiora Okonkwo, indicated ongoing efforts to meet the requirements.

“We are working on it from our own side. As soon as the process that is required is over, we will be ready,” he said, underscoring a commitment to achieving compliance.

However, the Special Assistant on Media and Communications to Keyamo, Tunde Moshood, told The PUNCH that the government is willing to allocate more international routes to local operators.

“There are several BASA routes to be fixed for our local operators the moment they show capacity and consistency.

“It’s for the local operators to show readiness and capacity, fixing them for any of the BASA routes is what the Minister has promised.”

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“Go and Verify”: How Sunday Umeha Is Redefining Representation in Ezeagu/Udi

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Rt. Hon. Barr. Sunday Cyriacus Umeha has continued to distinguish himself not only as a grassroots politician but as a sound parliamentarian who clearly understands the true essence of legislative representation and public service.

Since emerging as the Member representing Ezeagu/Udi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Umeha has consistently demonstrated capacity, vision, and commitment both on the floor of the National Assembly and within his constituency.

Unlike many politicians whose promises disappear after elections, Rt. Hon. Umeha has steadily transformed his campaign mantra, “Go and Verify,” into practical realities visible across communities in Ezeagu and Udi Federal Constituency.

From road construction to solar-powered streetlights, classroom projects, healthcare interventions, agricultural empowerment, scholarships, boreholes, and youth development programmes, his stewardship has remained rooted in service delivery and measurable impact.

Observers say one of the strongest qualities that separates Umeha from many lawmakers is his deep understanding of parliamentary responsibilities. Through strategic bills and motions, he has continued to show that representation goes beyond rhetoric and political appearances.

Among several notable legislative efforts, he sponsored bills seeking the establishment of a Federal College of Entrepreneurship and Skill Acquisition in Ezeagu/Udi Federal Constituency, reforms in the education sector through the abolition of levies in public basic schools, mandatory insurance protection for NYSC members, and the establishment of a National Football Academy.

He also sponsored motions addressing critical national concerns, including the investigation into the gruesome killing of Nigerians by soldiers in Enugu State and the urgent completion of the Karshi/Apo Road project in Abuja to ease traffic congestion.

Political analysts note that these interventions reflect a lawmaker who understands that effective representation must combine constituency development with strong legislative advocacy.

Many constituents equally commend him for remaining faithful to the promises he made during his campaigns. Across the constituency, residents point to completed and ongoing projects as evidence that the lawmaker has not reneged on his commitments to the people.

Beyond governance and legislative duties, Rt. Hon. Umeha also played significant roles in efforts aimed at restoring sanity, stability, and internal cohesion within the Labour Party before his eventual defection to the APC.

Sources within the political space in Enugu State revealed that Umeha consistently pushed for peace, unity, and institutional order within the party during periods of internal crisis and leadership disagreements. His interventions were said to be driven by the desire to protect the interests of party members and preserve the integrity of the platform.

However, following prolonged internal challenges and unresolved structural issues within the Labour Party, the federal lawmaker eventually moved to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a decision many political observers described as strategic and inevitable.

Despite the political transition, supporters insist that his focus has remained unchanged — delivering quality representation, empowering constituents, and sustaining developmental projects across Ezeagu/Udi Federal Constituency.

For many residents, Rt. Hon. Barr. Sunday Cyriacus Umeha represents a rare blend of grassroots leadership, legislative competence, humility, and political responsibility.

And across the constituency, the verdict from many communities remains simple:

“He promised, and he delivered.”

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