Skyward Bound: South-West Nigeria Poised to Launch O’odua Airlines
In a visionary call to action, the Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movements (AYDM) has propelled the idea of O’odua Airlines into the national conversation, advocating for a regional airline that could revolutionize air travel within Nigeria and beyond.
The AYDM’s statement, articulated by General Secretary Mr. Popoola Ajayi, outlines a bold plan for the six South-West Nigerian states—Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, and Ondo—to collaborate in establishing an airline that promises not only to reduce airfare costs but also to spur job creation, tourism, and agricultural transport.
With a significant diaspora of over three million Yoruba people in Ivory Coast and millions more across Europe and America, the demand for a home-grown airline is evident. The AYDM emphasizes that the time is ripe for such an initiative, citing the success of Ibom Airlines as a beacon of possibility.
The proposed O’odua Airlines would serve as a complement to existing private ventures like Air Peace, whose CEO Mr. Allen Onyema’s efforts have been lauded yet recognized as just the beginning of what could be achieved in the aviation sector.
The AYDM’s vision extends to transforming Ibadan into the bustling commercial hub for O’odua Airlines, leveraging the existing infrastructure of airports across the South-West states. This move is expected to breathe new life into these facilities, enhancing their utility and significance.
In a clarion call to the governors of the region, Mr. Ajayi has urged the formation of a technical committee to expedite the realization of this ambitious project, with the anticipation that global aviation partners will be eager to join forces with the South-West states in this pioneering endeavor.
