Air Peace Honours Nigeria’s Army troops, Police Personnel
By Zagazola Makama
A heartwarming gesture by staff of Air Peace towards Nigerian military and police personnel has sparked an outpouring of appreciation from passengers after a video showing uniformed security personnel being applauded while boarding a flight in Abuja went viral.
The video captures the moment members of the Nigerian military and Police were called forward to board an Air Peace flight ahead of other passengers, as airline staff stood and applauded them while they made their way to the aircraft.
What began as a gesture by the airline’s staff soon drew other passengers into the moment, with travellers joining the applause in a spontaneous show of gratitude and support for the security personnel.
The initiative, according to information accompanying the video, was introduced by the Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, as part of the airline’s efforts to recognise the sacrifices of members of Nigeria’s Armed Forces and Police.
Under the initiative, military and police personnel are called to board ahead of other passengers, while Air Peace staff remain standing and applaud them as they proceed for boarding.
The gesture is designed to acknowledge the often-unseen sacrifices made by security personnel, many of whom serve in difficult and dangerous environments to protect lives, maintain national security and preserve public order.
Some passengers also had a moment offered an opportunity to publicly express appreciation to personnel who spend long periods away from their families and operate under demanding conditions.
The spontaneous participation of other passengers transformed the boarding process into a brief but powerful moment of national solidarity.
In a country where security personnel are frequently in the public spotlight during periods of insecurity, the gesture also carries a broader message that behind the uniforms are Nigerians who continue to serve under difficult circumstances and deserve recognition for their commitment to the nation.
For a brief moment, the nation they serve stood up to say: Thank you for your service.
