Reno Omokri defends Air Peace, says bird strikes happen everywhere
Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has appealed to Nigerians to support indigenous airline Air Peace following recent flight disruptions linked to a bird strike incident, warning against attempts to tarnish the airline’s reputation.
In a statement released on Monday via social media, Omokri described Air Peace as a valuable national brand that should be protected rather than criticised over what he called an unavoidable occurrence.
“Nigerians have to learn to protect their brands. This is Earth. We do not exist in heaven in this realm. There is no perfection here. Mistakes happen. Accidents occur. But we must never band together to disband a brand that has made us grand!” he stated.
Defending the airline, Omokri noted that bird strikes are common occurrences in the aviation industry globally and should not automatically be interpreted as negligence.
“Air Peace is a source of pride for Nigeria. A bird strike can happen at any time to any airline. Please fact-check me: There are over 50,000 bird strike incidents annually, and 17,000 of them occur in the United States alone.
“These unplanned events cause delays. They are an act of God and are not due to negligence or incompetence,” he said.
The social commentator urged Nigerians to avoid damaging the image of the airline because of what he described as an isolated event.
“Air Peace is a great Nigerian brand that is flying our flag globally. Please resist the temptation to de-market such an excellent export of brand Nigeria because of this one isolated incident,” Omokri added.
He acknowledged that the disruption may have caused inconvenience to passengers but argued that the situation was compounded by the timing of the incident during a busy holiday period.
“Being that this was an unexpected event, of course, there would be challenges. Especially as it occurred around a prominent Bank Holiday when hotels are likely to be overbooked and overwhelmed,” he said.
Omokri also praised the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu for creating more opportunities for Nigerian airlines through expanded international routes.
“But prominent Nigerians should realise that the Tinubu administration worked hard to open up alternative routes for Nigerian airlines, and we, as patriotic citizens, should show some understanding in the face of these challenges,” he stated.
Expressing optimism about the future of the country and the airline, Omokri said Air Peace remained an important part of Nigeria’s growth story.
“Nigeria is on the path of greatness, and Air Peace is a huge part of that journey. I hope that this issue can be resolved soon to the satisfaction of everybody concerned,” he said.
