House of Representatives on Tuesday commended Chairman of Air Peace, Onyema Allen for his humanitarian intervention, following the renewed xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
Allen had in the wake of the attacks volunteered to help the Federal Government evacuate Nigerians who are willing to leave South Africa.
Speaker of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, who on behalf of his colleagues expressed appreciation for Allen, said the leadership of the House would invite the businessman to show members’ appreciation of his gesture.
The House also called on the authorities concerned to consider Allen for a national honours award.
However, the speaker expressed displeasure with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, who he accused of failing to honour the House’s committee invitation for information on the recent attacks.
“This is a nagging problem over which so many questions have been asked, but it is only when the facts are seen that we can address the problem. The minister (Onyeama) has not responded to the chairman’s invitation. I want to use this platform to send a message to the minister that he is very important in this and I think I would be speaking to the President on this matter”, Gbajabiamila said.
However, the speaker expressed displeasure with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, who he accused of failing to honour the House’s committee invitation for information on the recent attacks.
“This is a nagging problem over which so many questions have been asked, but it is only when the facts are seen that we can address the problem. The minister (Onyeama) has not responded to the chairman’s invitation.
Air Peace Flight B777 will depart Nigeria at midnight of Wednesday to evacuate more than 300 Nigerians from South Africa in the wake of the xenophobic attacks on foreigners in that country.
The Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace Airline, Mr. Allen Onyema, said this in an interview program.
“The pilots are there at the airport waiting for midnight to come. We pray that this time around, there won’t be any hitch.
“We have a list of about 319 Nigerians to be on that flight,” Onyema said hours after the airline secured a permit to land in Johannesburg.
Since the outrage over the xenophobia in South Africa, the Nigerian government has made efforts to assist citizens willing to return home.
On Wednesday last week, over 185 Nigerians returned to the country aboard Air Peace flight MEN2759, after the airline offered to evacuate them free of charge.
Barely one week later, an attempt by the airline to repatriate another set of Nigerians suffered a setback over landing permit.
