Nigerian airlines to smile as FG assures of BASA implementation  

The Federal Government has assured that it would strive to implement policies that ensure Nigeria’s airlines benefit from the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) it signed with other countries. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace, Dr Emmanuel Meribole made this statement at a reception recently organised by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to celebrate the commencement of direct flights between Nigeria and the Caribbean country by Air Peace Airline recently. Represented by Director Air Transport Management of the Ministry, Mr. Hassan Ejibunu, Meribole said the journey would further strengthen the relationship of both countries in the areas of commerce, trade, and tourism while acknowledged the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Antiguan/Barbudan authorities for approving the designation of Air Peace by the Nigerian Aeronautical Authorities to fly the Nigerian-Antiguan route. In his remarks, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Mr. Gatson Browne said “It is a new dawn for the relationship between Nigeria and Antigua”. He emphasized on the ancestral linkage between the Caribbean nations and Africa, which he referred to as the Motherland saying Antigua and Barbuda was home to every African and his government is desirous to promote economic and bilateral ties with African nations within the context of the South-South cooperation. He urged members of the business community from Nigeria and potential investors to take advantage of the favorable economic policy of his government to invest in the country. The Prime Minister further revealed that the country was in a collaboration with Air Peace Airline to float an airline known as LIAT 2020 which would commence flight operations soon. The airline, he said , on commencement of operations would operate in the entire Caribbean countries thus making air connectivity between Africa, the entire Caribbean countries, and America stress-free. Speaking earlier, Director for Economic, Trade and Investment, in the Foreign Affairs Ministry Amb. Bolaji Akinremi, said the development signposts the beginning of a newfound relationship between Antigua and Barbuda as well as the entire Caribbean countries. He said the air connectivity was in sync with the Foreign policy of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu of integrating the economy of Africa nations. Akinremi further said, Caribbean countries were considered as an integral part of Africa as the fifth bloc. He added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would continue to foster the new fond relationship by promoting Bilateral meetings between the business communities of both counties.

NCAA, ICAO sign Civil Aviation MasterPlan agreement

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has signed the Civil Aviation MasterPlan (CAMP) agreement with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in Montreal, Canada to foster development in the industry. The Director-General Civil Aviation (DGCA) Capt. Musa Nuhu confirmed the development in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos. Nuhu represented Nigeria at the signing ceremony, while ICAO’s Secretary-General, Mr Juan Salaazar signed for the international body. CAMP is a course for senior and middle managers of the State’s Civil Aviation Authorities (CAAs) on the recovery from the impacts of COVID-19, in accordance with the relevant ICAO provisions. Nuhu explained that the partnership with ICAO was to enable the sector to attain its full potential, while also making significant contributions to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The director-general said that the partnership with ICAO would further lead to more direct and indirect job opportunities for qualified Nigerians in various fields. The NCAA chief said that it was high time the sector in the country played its key role of developing the nation through air travel. Nuhu stated that the industry had played pivotal roles in the development of many countries around the world and Nigeria with the biggest economy in Africa could not operate in isolation of the others. He said: “CAMP is a process to plan for the short, intermediate, and long term development goals through implementing policy directives and to drive change and transformation. “Civil aviation masterplan would be critical to facilitate the growth of the sector and the deployment of required action plans. “This is to stimulate the development and growth of the industry, thereby acting as catalysts and enabler of national economy. “We need to have an orderly growth and development of the industry in tandem with our national aspirations. “Economies of many countries depend almost entirely on aviation and aviation played a significant role in the development of Dubai and Emirates is its global brand.” In a bid to ensure the development to the industry in particular and Nigeria at large, Nuhu said that all relevant stakeholders within and outside the ecosystem would be carried along.