Airline Operators of Nigeria warn the National Assembly that the proposed tax law will cripple airlines of implemented January 2026.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, on Monday, said the proposed tax law, expected to take effect from January 1, 2026, would hurt airlines in the country if implemented.

Onyema stated the new tax regime, if allowed to stand, would crumble the industry, which had over the years been struggling.

He spoke on behalf of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) at the 100 years’ celebration of Aviation in Nigeria, in Abuja.

Onyema stated, “This is our prayer. We are going to meet members of the National Assembly very soon, together with our minister, to discuss the issues of taxation that are supposed to come into effect on January 1, 2026, as it affects the airlines, because if it is allowed to stand, all of us will crumble. But I know Mr. President will listen to our cries and do the needful.”

He added, “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 criticise 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.”

Onyema celebrated President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to the growth of the aviation industry, saying, “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.”

Onyema stated that before now, the industry was almost dead.

According to him, “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

“The country was made to see us as a very hopeless sector—never mind the fact that the owners of these airlines, as private-sector operators, are very selfless in what they do for the entire nation; and that these were the same people moving the country forward, strategically powering the economy and the movement of the people.”

He stressed that there was still more to be done, saying, “We are very hopeful that with the kind of square peg in a square hole that we have, success is beckoning at the end.”

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in his remarks at the event, urged veterans, who had over the years shaped the industry, to continue to lend their voices for its growth.

Keyamo said, “We thought it fit 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.

“And I’m sure you have seen all of them today, aeronautical engineers, captains, even sky caterers, those who have catered for those flying for us for many years, we honour all of them today. But we also want to apologise for those we may have omitted.”

The minister stated, “We want to apologise, we are not perfect. There are other heroes beyond this list. We are trying to manage this to 40, but at the end of the day, we still have to up to 47 or so, because by the time we publish the first list, we realised that so many other were also omitted.

“So this is a general shout out and appreciation to all those who were not mentioned at some other time.”

Recipients of the awards included Capt. Ado Sanusi, Chief Wale Babalakin, Sir Joseph Arumemi, Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliu, Capt. Dele Ore, Capt. Wale Makinde, Capt. Ibrahim Mshella, Capt. Dapo Olumide, Ms. Bimbo Sosina, Capt. Benoni Briggs, Mrs. Deola Olukunle, Dr. Thomas Ogunbangbe, Capt. Edward Boyo, Dr. Gbenga Olowo, Dr. Soji Amusan, Engr. Awogbemi Clement, Sen. Musa Adede, Georg Eder MBA, and Capt. Prex Porbeni.

Others were Mrs. Folashade Odutola, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, Capt. Fola Adeola, Dr. Seindemi Fadeni, Capt. Chinyere Kali, Harold Demure, Akin Olateru, Mr. George Urensi, Mrs. Deola Yesufu, Engr. Babatunde Obadofin, Dr. Ayo Obilana, Capt. Felix Iheanacho, Capt. Peter Adenihun, Capt. Jonathan Ibrahim, Pa Odeleye AC, Capt. Toju Ogidi, and Pa Abel Kalu Ukonu. ()ARISE NEWS)