Stop Undermining Indigenous Employers: Support the Few Creating Jobs Where Government Has Failed
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – As Nigeria continues to grapple with soaring unemployment and worsening economic conditions, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the February 2023 general election, Peter Obi has appealed to the Nigerian elite and politicians to desist from sabotaging the efforts of homegrown entrepreneurs who are filling critical gaps left by underperforming states and federal governments’ institutions.
The appeal by Obi who arrived in the UK aboard Air Peace—a private Nigerian airline operating international routes—serves as a poignant reminder of the value and importance of supporting indigenous businesses.
The former Governor of Anambra state who made the call on his X handle on Saturday, praised the airline’s professionalism, consistency, and competence after multiple experiences flying the Lagos–London route.
Apart from his commendation, Obi issues a clarion call to protect and uplift Nigerian enterprises, particularly those in capital-intensive sectors such as air and land transportation. These businesses, often built with hard-earned resources and run under harsh economic realities, are playing a key role in absorbing unemployed youth and keeping the economy afloat where government interventions have fallen short.
“It is never easy to run any business in our difficult environment, let alone in sectors that require massive investments and are burdened by high operational costs,” Obi noted, underscoring the resilience of local entrepreneurs.
Rather than being met with bureaucracy, harassment, or intimidation, Nigerian businesses—especially those generating significant employment—deserve deliberate support, preferential patronage, and policy-driven protection. Backing these efforts is not just good for business; it is vital for national progress, he reminded as a businessman himself.
Precise Post recalls that this is coming against the backdrop of accusation and counter-sccusation between Senator Adams Oshiomhole and the management of Air Peace Airline over circumstances surrounding the former’s missing of flight.
Oshiomhole had claimed that he missed his Air Peace flight from Lagos to Abuja due to the airline’s disorganised operations.
According to the senator, the ordeal began the previous week when his Air Peace flight was delayed for five hours before it was cancelled. He said he tried to use Ibom Air afterwards but was denied boarding despite his assistant having already checked in their luggage.
“I got there early, but they told me boarding was over. My assistant was already there with our checked-in luggage, but they refused to issue him the boarding pass, insisting on seeing me in person. By the time I arrived, they said they had closed,” he said.
He said he was later assured by an Air Peace manager that he could rebook for the 6:30 am flight the following Wednesday, and was advised to check in online, which he claimed he did by 9:00 pm on Tuesday.
However, on getting to the airport, he said he was told the flight had closed and was already full.
“I showed them my online check-in and boarding pass, but they said the flight was full. That means they overbooked,” he alleged.
The senator said about 20 to 30 other passengers also missed the flight and accused the airline of racketeering.
“They tried to give me special treatment, but I refused. What about the others who can’t afford that amount? It seems they are selling tickets at higher rates at the counter, disregarding those who booked earlier. That’s racketeering,” he said
However, Air Peace has denied the allegations by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, describing his claims of extortion and overbooking as “deliberate falsehood.”
In a statement signed by the airline’s management and made available on Thursday via X, Air Peace said, “The Senator lied blatantly when he accused Air Peace of extorting its passengers. We challenge Senator Oshiomhole to bring one evidence of a passenger that was extorted.”
The airline insisted that no ticket was sold after the closure of check-in on the flight in question and that the aircraft departed with over 30 empty seats.
“None of our staff ever extorted any passenger. In fact, no ticket was sold after the closure of check-in on that flight. Everyone who flew bought their ticket prior to the flight closure,” the statement added.
Air Peace said the flight was not overbooked, contrary to what the senator alleged in his videos.
“It would have been in our interest to carry Oshiomhole and those others who missed their flights for lateness on this flight, instead of flying many empty seats; but we will never sacrifice our strict on-time performance for monetary gains,” the airline noted.
Addressing further claims by the former Edo State governor, Air Peace accused him of unruly behaviour at the airport.
“He came to the airport late and was told that he was late. He then began to forment trouble. He jumped on the baggage conveyor belt preventing the check-in process of other flights. He also barricaded the entrance gate and prevented access to the terminal,” they said.
Air Peace also called on the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to release CCTV footage of the incident.
“We call on FAAN to release the CCTV coverage starting from the time Senator Oshiomhole entered the airport, for Nigerians to see. His accusation of extortion is very defamatory. His conduct was very violent, unbecoming, unfortunate and above all, shameful,” the statement added.
Precise Post further recalls that Nigeria’s Civil Aviation regulation states that:
“Online check-in does not exempt passengers from arriving at the airport in time for boarding unless otherwise stated by the airline.”
“Suppose a passenger fails to meet the airline’s check-in or boarding deadline, even by a few minutes, the airline is legally permitted to deny boarding, and compensation is not mandatory in such cases, as it’s not considered the airline’s fault.”
“However, the airline must apply its policies fairly and uniformly, without favouritism or arbitrary enforcement, in line with the NCAR Part 19, which prescribes passenger rights”.
