Air Peace Chairman commends Fidelity Bank’s support for aviation growth, $400m Eurobond repayment

The Chairman and CEO of Air Peace, West and Central Africa’s largest airline, Dr. Allen Onyema, has underscored the importance of financially resilient institutions such as Fidelity Bank in supporting capital-intensive sectors, particularly aviation, where access to financing remains essential to fleet development, operational sustainability and industry growth.

Dr. Allen Onyema stated this while commending Fidelity Bank Plc on the repayment of its US$400 million Eurobond at maturity, describing the achievement as a remarkable demonstration of financial strength, institutional discipline and visionary leadership.

Onyema commended the bank for meeting its obligations throughout the five-year tenure of the Eurobond, particularly its decision to fund the repayment entirely from internal liquidity.

He attributed the milestone to the strategic foresight of Fidelity Bank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, whose leadership, he noted, has continued to strengthen the Bank’s financial standing and reputation within Nigeria’s banking industry.

Onyema further applauded the bank’s successful completion of its recapitalisation ahead of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s stipulated deadline, describing both achievements as evidence of sound corporate governance and sustainable financial management.

Highlighting the critical relationship between banking and aviation, he noted that strong partnerships between financial institutions and indigenous enterprises are indispensable to strengthening Nigeria’s economic competitiveness and advancing the country’s broader development aspirations.

Onyema expressed confidence in the capacity of Fidelity Bank to attain even greater milestones while reaffirming Air Peace’s goodwill towards the bank.