CEO of Air Peace, Allen Onyema secured discounted flight for 204 Ebonyi scholars — Governor Nwifuru

Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has expressed happiness over the flight discount Allen Onyema, the Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria’s largest flag carrier, Air Peace, gave 204 students of the state travelling to the United Kingdom for further studies.

Nwifuru said rather than charge the Ebonyi State government over a billion Naira for 204 students and five officials, Onyema agreed to fly them for 500 million Naira.

Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru

The governor also revealed that Onyema said if he had been informed of the development earlier than the state did, the Allen Onyema Foundation would have completely funded the trip to the UK.

His words: “Let me thank Allen Onyema for showing a very great interest in Ebonyi State. I must thank him publicly and inform the people of Ebonyi of his contributions.

“About two days ago (within the week), I contacted Allen Onyema and I told him, Allen, I am finding it difficult to transport my people from Nigeria to the United Kingdom. Allen replied that he had the solution.

“When I asked him about the solution, he responded that his aircraft was available. He also said if I had informed him earlier, the Allen Onyema Foundation would have used its resources to cover all the expenses. The Allen Onyema Foundation would have paid everything off. But given that I needed it urgently, there was nothing he could do. He, however, said he was going to give me a price that I would not find anywhere.

Air Peace

“Therefore, I want to inform the people of Ebonyi that we are sending 204 students. Total number ought to be 212, but three are heavily pregnant. The other three are being disqualified based on health issues, remaining 204. Two are already in Stanford. Two are already in the United Kingdom, leaving 204 students.

“Allen told me that the price for aircraft to the UK is 6 million per person. You can google-search it, it is not a difficult thing. Because five officials are going with them, if you calculate N6 million by 209, it is over N1 billion. So Allen said to me, Ebonyi governor, Mr Francis, you know you are a very strong man. Very unassuming. So, he asked what I wanted and I told him to give me the bill, which he did. He reduced the price down to N766.5 million from over a billion Naira.

I am saying this to all of you, especially many of you that are travelling abroad so that you know how many people you are indebted to. Now, when I looked at it, I said N766.5 million was still very heavy for me.

Nevertheless, Allen asked how much I would pay and I told him N500 million. So he said, okay Francis, pay the 500 million.

What that shows is that we are on the very right track. I want everyone to know very well that what Allen did for us is more than 60 per cent of the total cost. What he paid is more than 60 per cent. We are also very grateful to him.