A disagreement has broken out between Nigeria’s largest airline, Air Peace, and the Umueri community in Anambra East Local Government Area over the ownership and payment for land allocated for a proposed Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility at the Chinua Achebe International Cargo Airport.
The controversy was triggered by viral social media claims alleging that Air Peace Chairman, Allen Onyema, paid ₦100 million directly to the Umueri community for the land — a claim the community has strongly denied.
While the community insists that no payment was made to it, Air Peace maintains that the ₦100 million payment was duly made to the Anambra State Government, not to any local group.
Air Peace clarifies payment records
Responding to the allegations, Air Peace stated that it made the ₦100 million payment on August 26, 2021, directly to the Anambra State Government, which issued an official receipt.
The airline further disclosed that a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for the land was subsequently granted on September 14, 2021.
To substantiate its position, the airline shared a copy of the payment receipt, asserting that the records speak for themselves.
“It must be clearly stated that Dr. Onyema does not lie about anything. His integrity—both personal and professional—is beyond question,” Air Peace said in a statement.
“The circulating claims are false, malicious, defamatory, and entirely without merit.”
The airline reaffirmed its commitment to completing the MRO project, describing it as a strategic investment to strengthen Nigeria’s aviation industry, create jobs, and position the country as a maintenance hub in Africa.
Umueri community counters online reports
Reacting to the controversy, the Umueri community, through its traditional ruler, Igwe Bennett Emeka, issued a statement titled “Umueri Community Sets the Record Straight.”
The monarch dismissed the reports suggesting that the community received payment from Onyema or rejected his project proposal as “false and misleading.”
“The false claims allege that Chief Onyema relocated the N32 billion MRO project to Lagos because Umueri refused to provide land after collecting ₦100 million. This is completely untrue,” the monarch said.
“The community neither allocated land to nor received any payment from Chief Onyema.”
According to him, the land allocation for the MRO facility was approved by former Governor Willie Obiano, who also designated a nearby parcel for the Nigerian Air Force as part of the airport’s development plan.
Background on the MRO project
Air Peace had in August 2024 laid the foundation for its ₦32 billion Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, a major step toward domestic aircraft servicing capability.
The airline said the project’s vision remains rooted in patriotism and national growth, noting that it aims to reduce dependence on foreign maintenance, save forex, and boost Nigeria’s aviation self-reliance.
“Dr. Onyema’s vision for Air Peace’s MRO project is about progress and patriotism. It’s not about politics, but about building a better future for Nigerian aviation,” the airline emphasized.
