Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, says Nigeria’s overdependence on oil has hindered the growth of tourism, describing the sector as one of the country’s most neglected economic opportunities.
Onyema spoke on the first day of the Africa Legacy Summit held at Eko Hotels & Suites to celebrate the hospitality behemoth’s 50th anniversary, with stakeholders across aviation, tourism, hospitality, and government gathering to discuss the future of African tourism and economic development.
According to Onyema, countries without oil resources have successfully built thriving economies around tourism, while Nigeria failed to fully harness its vast cultural and tourism potential because of its long-standing dependence on crude oil revenues.
“Oil has become an albatross because we neglected so many other opportunities this country could have keyed into,” he said.
The airline executive praised Eko Hotels for its contribution to Nigeria’s hospitality industry, describing the hotel as a leading destination for events, tourism, and entertainment in the country.
Speaking on aviation and tourism, Onyema lamented the poor infrastructure across Nigerian airports, warning that inadequate transit facilities continue to discourage international travellers from using Nigeria as a regional hub.
“There’s no hub infrastructure in these airports. How do you want to encourage tourism?” he asked.
Onyema also highlighted operational challenges facing airlines, particularly bird strikes, which he described as a major safety risk capable of grounding aircraft and causing severe disruptions.
Despite the challenges, Onyema maintained that Nigerian airlines remain committed to safety and operate under some of the strictest regulatory oversight globally.
He noted that Air Peace remains the only airline in West Africa approved for commercial operations into Europe and the only carrier in the region to secure the International Air Transport Association Operational Safety Audit certification six consecutive times.
“This is the only airline in West Africa that can do commercial operations into Europe,” he said.
Onyema further criticised what he described as deliberate efforts to undermine Nigerian businesses, urging citizens to support indigenous brands rather than constantly promoting foreign entities.
According to him, patriotism is essential to developing tourism, aviation, and other sectors capable of driving economic growth.
He also called for greater promotion of Nigeria’s cultural diversity, saying the country’s over 300 ethnic groups should be viewed as a tourism asset rather than a source of division.
“When you talk about tourism, that is the beginning of tourism. Our cultures should be sold to the world,” he said.
Melissa Enoch
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