A dispute has erupted between Nigeria’s largest airline, Air Peace, and the Umueri community in Anambra East Local Government Area over claims surrounding the payment for land allocated for a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility at the Chinua Achebe International Cargo Airport.
Reports had circulated on social media alleging that Air Peace Chairman, Allen Onyema, paid N100 million to the Umueri community for the land, which the community has strongly denied.
While Air Peace confirmed that its chairman indeed made the payment, the airline clarified that the money was paid to the Anambra State Government, not to the Umueri community.
It will be recalled that Air Peace recently began work on a N32 billion MRO facility at the Lagos airport.
In a statement titled “Umueri Community Sets the Record Straight,” the traditional ruler of Umueri, Igwe Bennett Emeka, described the reports as false and misleading.
“The false claims allege that Chief Onyema decided to site his N32 billion MRO facility in Lagos because the local community refused to provide land for the project, even after he had paid them N100 million for that purpose. The Umueri community categorically states that these claims are false and misleading,” the monarch said.
He explained that Onyema’s application for land to build the facility was approved by the former governor, Willie Obiano, who also allocated a separate area of land to the Nigerian Air Force.
“It is not true that Chief Onyema paid the Umueri community N100 million. We never allocated any land to him. The Anambra State Government did. We, therefore, could not have demanded or received any payment from him,” the monarch said.
He added that the community has documents to prove its position and is ready to present them to the authorities if required.
Responding to the statement, Air Peace, through its spokesperson, Osifo-Whiskey Efe, maintained that the airline had never accused the Umueri community of wrongdoing.
“To begin with, the Umueri community was never accused of any wrongdoing by Dr. Onyema or by Air Peace. At no time was any statement issued suggesting that the community refused land allocation, received money, or was in dispute with Air Peace over the MRO project. The Igwe’s media release, therefore, is unprovoked, baseless, and entirely misplaced,” the airline said.
Air Peace stated that the N100 million was paid directly to the Anambra State Government on August 26, 2021, and that an official receipt was issued, followed by a Certificate of Occupancy on September 14, 2021.
The airline also shared a copy of the payment receipt as evidence and described the claims as “false, malicious, and defamatory.”
“It must be clearly stated that Dr. Onyema does not lie about anything. His personal and professional integrity is evident in his transparent record of service to Nigeria and his unwavering commitment to national development,” the statement added.
Air Peace reaffirmed its commitment to completing the MRO project, saying it would create jobs and strengthen Nigeria’s aviation sector.
“Dr. Onyema’s vision for the Air Peace MRO remains rooted in patriotism and progress, a project conceived to create jobs, strengthen Nigeria’s aviation industry, and position the country as a hub for aircraft maintenance in Africa,” the airline said.
