The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Aviation, has said that plans have been put in motion to facilitate direct flights between Nigeria and Uganda.
According to a statement, the minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika led the delegation to Kampala, Uganda to facilitate direct air connectivity between the two countries.
The statement, signed by the Special Assistant to the Minister on Public Affairs, James Odaudu, said the meeting focused on the review of the subsisting Bilateral Air Services Agreement between both countries, which was signed in 2002 and reviewed in 2005.
The meeting also focused on modalities surrounding the necessary administrative and technical support to the Memorandum of Understanding agreed upon during the last International Civil Aviation Negotiation Event which was held in Abuja in December 2022.
In his remarks, Sirika underscored the importance of air transportation, which he said remains a veritable means of connecting the people of Africa and enhancing trade.
He stated that air transportation has great potential in Africa considering its population of over 1.37bn and urged African countries to leverage the opportunity of the Single Africa Air Transport Market to attain the 2065 Africa Agenda.
He, however, assured the Government of Uganda that Nigeria would work towards ensuring that air connectivity becomes a reality as both countries have come a long way.
Sirika further commended his Ugandan counterpart for keying into the initiative and acknowledged the roles played by the High Commissioner of Uganda to Nigeria and the Nigeria-Uganda Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines of Agriculture in facilitating the meeting.
The Minister of Works and Transport of Uganda, Gen. Edward Katumba Kamala, who received the delegation, appreciated Sirika for his physical presence, stating that the visit would afford Ministers opportunities to provide the necessary political leadership that would facilitate the implementation of the Agreements reached during the meeting.
Gen Kamala, during the meeting, reiterated his country’s quest for the operation of direct flight into Nigeria using its national carrier, Uganda Airlines.
Article first published on the Punch Website
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