Nigeria’s largest airline, Air Peace, has denied claims that it collaborated with the Bola Tinubu administration to mislead Nigerians over a proposed direct flight between Lagos and São Paulo, Brazil.
The allegations followed reports that Nigerians living in Brazil accused both the Federal Government and Air Peace of deceiving them with a false promise of commencing the service, despite a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two countries in August 2025.
Air Peace spokesperson, Efe Osifo-Whiskey, described the allegations as “false, sensational, and dishonest,” saying the airline was still working with relevant Nigerian authorities, the Brazilian government, and other stakeholders to launch the route.
According to the airline, an MoU is a statement of intent between governments, not a flight launch, ticket sale, or scheduled service. Osifo-Whiskey explained that multiple regulatory and operational approvals, including bilateral agreements, slot allocations, safety certifications, and aircraft deployment planning, must be completed before the flight can commence.
The airline also stated that no Nigerian was stranded, no tickets were sold, and no flight date was announced, emphasizing that the reports misrepresented optimism and planning as guarantees. Air Peace highlighted that its London operations, for example, took approximately seven years from conception to execution.
Osifo-Whiskey added that Air Peace remains the only airline in Nigeria and West Africa capable of operating transoceanic flights with its own wide-body fleet, and described the report as a deliberate smear campaign sponsored by vested interests.
The airline assured the public that it has the equipment and capacity to operate the Lagos–São Paulo route and reaffirmed its commitment to completing all necessary processes before launching the service, prioritizing the safety of passengers, crew, and equipment.
