Air Peace chief pushes synergy on Nigeria aviation security 

• Cautions overreliance on hardware, checklist

Allen Onyema, chairman, Air Peace

Aviation stakeholders have been urged to make concerted efforts to strengthen airport security in the country.

Allen Onyema, chairman of Air Peace, said at a recent high-level symposium on the “Fundamentality of Aviation Security in Achieving the Safe-Skies Goal” held in Lagos, that aviation security is not just protocol, it’s the industry’s “lifeblood.”

According to him, with global threats evolving at breakneck speed, from cyberattacks to insider threats and terrorism, Nigeria’s aviation architecture must be continuously reimagined and strengthened.

He spoke of the importance of synergy, warning that “No one agency or operator can do it alone, airlines, airport authorities, security agencies, regulators, and private sector partners must work in concert.”

Onyema highlighted how Air Peace has modeled this collaborative approach by investing heavily in cutting-edge security technology, continuous training, and institutional partnerships.

However, the veteran airline boss cautioned against an overreliance on hardware and checklists.

“Security is also about mindset,” he said, emphasising that vigilance, intelligence-sharing, and uncompromising compliance must be cultural norms across the aviation ecosystem.

Onyema urged the symposium not to become “another talkshop,” but a launchpad for concrete, collective action.

“It is a privilege to be here this morning,” he said, while acknowledging the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority for organising the symposium and for its persistent efforts in oversight and regulation.

He said: “It is a privilege to be here this morning, let us share best practices, raise hard questions, and commit to actionable outcomes.”

He also reaffirmed Air Peace’s commitment to collaboration and aviation excellence. “Our passengers deserve nothing less and our future as an aviation nation depends on it,” Onyema said.