Nigeria’s largest airline, Air Peace, has rejected claims that it collaborated with the Federal Government to mislead Nigerians over the proposed Lagos–São Paulo direct flight. The allegations followed reports that Nigerians living in Brazil accused both the airline and the government of failing to deliver on promises stemming from a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in August 2025.
Air Peace spokesperson, Efe Osifo-Whiskey, described the reports as “false, sensational, and dishonest,” emphasizing that an MoU is a statement of intent between governments, not a ticket sale or confirmed flight schedule. She clarified that no tickets were sold, no flights were announced, and no passengers were stranded, highlighting that public expectations had been misinterpreted as guarantees.
“The allegation of a scam is illogical. International long-haul operations require multiple regulatory approvals, including bilateral air services agreements, slot allocations, safety and insurance certifications, and route planning,” Osifo-Whiskey explained. She noted that Air Peace currently has four Boeing 777-200/300 aircraft, two of which are already deployed on London routes, with the remaining two on standby for São Paulo once all regulatory and operational requirements are fulfilled.
The airline stressed that it has been actively engaging Nigerian authorities, cooperating with the Brazilian government, and working with stakeholders in Brazil since last year to ensure the successful launch of the route. Osifo-Whiskey also defended Air Peace against claims that it contributes to high international airfares, explaining that global pricing is beyond the airline’s control.
Air Peace concluded that the allegations represent a deliberate smear campaign aimed at undermining both the airline and the Nigerian government, asserting that it remains the only airline in West Africa with the capacity to operate transoceanic flights using its own wide-body fleet.
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