In a bold statement that has sparked widespread discussion, the Chairman of AirPeace, Allen Onyema, has declared that Nigerians are currently paying the cheapest domestic airfares in the world. This assertion comes amidst growing public complaints about the rising cost of air travel within the country.
Onyema's Startling Comparison on National TV
Allen Onyema made his case during an appearance on Arise TV on the morning of December 28, 2025. He presented a direct comparison to underscore his point. "A one-hour flight costs over $400 abroad, but in Nigeria, we still have tickets for N125,000, which is less than $60," Onyema stated emphatically. He clarified that this assessment was not based on the peak yuletide season but on general, year-round pricing.
The airline executive challenged the prevailing narrative of expensive tickets, insisting that the Nigerian market offers unparalleled value. "Nigerians are flying the cheapest fares in the world domestically, the cheapest. I will prove it to you," he told viewers, framing the low fares as a unique characteristic of the local aviation sector.
The High Cost of Cheap Tickets for Airlines
Onyema directly linked these low fares to the financial instability plaguing Nigerian airlines. He revealed a sobering statistic: over 80 airlines have come and gone in Nigeria's aviation history. According to him, the unsustainably low ticket prices are a primary driver behind this high mortality rate.
He explained that the recent increases in airfares, which have drawn public lament, are largely attributable to severe operational and maintenance challenges. These include the high cost of aviation fuel, expensive spare parts, and complex maintenance procedures, all of which are conducted in foreign currency. Airlines are forced to adjust prices upward merely to survive, despite the fares remaining low by global standards.
Public Reaction and Industry Context
The chairman's comments arrive at a time when Nigerian travelers have been vocal on social media and in traditional media about the spike in domestic ticket prices. Many passengers find it difficult to reconcile Onyema's claim of "world's cheapest" with the reality of paying significantly more for a Lagos-Abuja flight today compared to a few years ago.
However, Onyema's argument rests on the purchasing power parity and direct currency conversion. His core message is that while fares have risen in Naira terms, their value in hard currency remains critically low, creating a business model that is extremely difficult to sustain. This situation, he implies, threatens the entire ecosystem of domestic air travel in Nigeria.
The video of his interview was widely shared, notably on the popular Linda Ikeji Blog's Instagram page, amplifying the debate among the Nigerian public. The discussion now centers on finding a balance between affordable fares for citizens and a viable operating environment for airlines, which are crucial for national connectivity and economic growth.
