UNA: Heritage, ambition and next phase of growth

By Dickson Omobola

Nigeria’s aviation space was enriched June 18, 2026, when dignitaries converged on Nesto Aviation Services, NESTAV, at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, to join Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, UNA, Professor Obiora Okonkwo, for the official unveiling of two newly acquired Boeing 737-800NG aircraft.

Fittingly, the planes were named after Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, and literary giant, the late Professor Chinua Achebe.

So, it was hardly a surprise when the revered monarch, regally dressed in his traditional red cap and flowing white robes, arrived at about 11:28 am.

At that moment, two things came to this reporter’s mind: the words of American historian, Henry Glassie, who said: “History is not the past but a map of the past, drawn from a particular point of view, to be useful to the modern traveller.”

Second, the words of Jamaican political activist, the late Marcus Garvey, who asserted that “a people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”

Symbolism

Unsurprisingly, those statements gained validation as soon as Okonkwoý mounted the podium to set the event in motion.

Setting the tone for the ceremony, the Spokesperson for Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, said naming the aircraft after two illustrious Nigerians was a celebration of the country’s rich culture and heritage, adding that both aircraft carry the Achebe name for reasons close to the airline’s history.

He described the late Chinua Achebe as a relative from his hometown of Ogidi who first introduced Africa to the wider world through literature, adding that the Obi of Onitsha embodies the wisdom of a traditional throne that has guided generations.

He said: ý”His Royal Majesty is an elder statesman, a respected leader, hardworking and humble in his ways, deeply traditional, loved and admired by the public. What makes this occasion different is that, for the first time in Nigeria, we have aircraft bearing these particular names that carry real significance, and that came to Nigeria only after a great deal of sacrifice, hope and effort to give our nation a better direction in aviation.”

Reacting to the recognition, the revered monarch, Igwe Achebe, also said: “I am completely overwhelmed and totally lost for words. We are here to celebrate the two aircraft. One is named after me. My name is inscribed alongside Chinua Achebe. I have gained benefits sharing the same surname with Chinua Achebe.”

Survival

But for resilience, the airline might not have been in a position where it recognised the impacts of these great Nigerians with its aircraft.

This fact was evident when Okonkwo recalled that during COVID, the airline sent 23 pilots to South Africa for training and they became stranded for nine months when international airspace shut down.

He said: “They couldn’t leave, some fell ill, they couldn’t even go home, and yet we kept paying their hotel bills, their food, their salaries, everything. We survived that period because we kept flying. Also, two, three, four years ago, it was not clear what the future of aviation would be because Nigeria had a blockade.

“At the time, no international aviation body wanted to deal with Nigeria, not until we had our Minister, Keyamo. We have two giant aircraft behind us, all Achebe. With these aircraft, we carry the story that introduced Africa to the whole world, written by Chinua Achebe.

“We are all familiar with his Things Fall Apart. For his royal majesty, the Obi of Onitsha, this is the first time in Nigeria that there is an aircraft that has his name. The journey of purchasing this aircraft was a very long one. It is supposed to be six aircraft, we just welcomed the first two.”

Fair competition

Meanwhile, Chairman of Nigeria’s largest airline, Air Peace, Allen Onyema, in his remarks, welcomed competition among Nigerian airlines but said it should be driven by goodwill rather than rivalry.

Onyema said: “Today is one of my happiest moments. I know a lot of people will be asking themselves whether these two people are not rivals. However, I remember telling my brother (Okonkwo) not to miss out on it when Southwest advertised those planes.

“I told him that that was his opportunity to acquire single-aisle aircraft and he should do whatever it would take to acquire these planes. If I did not want him to grow, I would not have done that. Today, it is my joy to see UNA become the second largest airline in West Africa. It is my prayer that all Nigerian airlines succeed and none falls off the sky. While we can compete, we should remain friends and share ideas.”

Policy

For Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, the aircraft unveiling was a validation of Federal Government’s policy, which is to support local airlines.

Keyamo said: “Let me be very clear: we are not confused as to where we are going. We are clear. We are very clear as to our policy direction, and it is better and more profitable to support your flag carriers. We have given UNA New York, Canada, Dubai, which are very fruitful routes. We are only looking for equipment to run this route. 90 per cent of the airlift from Nigeria to other countries are not done by Nigerian carriers. That market is our market, it is not done by our airlines. They have to enter that market and eat part of that market.”

Ambition

The unveiling, however, was not UNA’s only recent achievement. Just days before, the fast-growing airline  was officially admitted as a party to the International Air Transport Association, IATA, Multilateral Interline Traffic Agreement, MITA, for passenger operations, thereby signalling its ambition to expand.

This achievement, confirmed via IATA Memorandum ADMIN/INTERLINE/4811, follows strict compliance with PSC Resolution 780, thus transitioning UNA from a domestic operator to a globally recognised player capable of seamless international collaboration.

By joining the MITA framework, United Nigeria Airlines is now positioned to enter into code-sharing and interline partnerships with hundreds of IATA-member airlines worldwide, enhancing the passenger experience through seamless, single-ticket itineraries, unified baggage check-ins and smoother connections between UNA flights and those of major global carriers.

Speaking on their growth, Public relations officer for the airline, Chibuike Uloka, said: “This is more than just a regulatory approval; it is a gateway to the world for United Nigeria Airlines. Admission into the MITA network validates our operational standards and aligns us with global best practices in aviation. We are now ready to offer our passengers unparalleled access to global destinations through strategic partnerships.”

As part of its expansion plans, the airline is targeting Douala, Libreville, Johannesburg, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Turkey, Dubai and Saudi Arabia in the next six to 24 months.

The expansion plan, however, remains subject to aircraft delivery, regulatory approvals and obtaining foreign carrier permits, depending on the country.