Nigeria Plans Review of Air Pacts with 37 Countries to Boost Air Transportation

• The Federal Government of Nigeria plans to review bilateral air service agreements with 37 African countries to boost intra-African trade
• Minister Festus Keyamo emphasizes commitment to the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) and directs the alignment of agreements with SAATM principles

The Federal Government of Nigeria is set to review bilateral air service agreements with 37 African countries, all signatories to the Yamoussoukro Decision (YD) and the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). These agreements aim to liberalize air transportation across the continent and enhance intra-African trade.

Speaking at the 24th-anniversary event of the YD Day in Abuja, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to SAATM, emphasizing the importance of air transport liberalization in boosting intra-African trade. He highlighted that while African airlines experienced a 34.7% surge in passenger traffic over the past year, the continent’s global passenger market share remained modest at 2.1%. SAATM, he noted, would contribute significantly to trade, tourism, and reducing the continent’s trade deficit.

As part of the commitment to SAATM, Keyamo directed the review of Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASA) with African countries signatory to SAATM, aligning them with the provisions of the Yamoussoukro Decision and principles of reciprocity.

Simultaneously, Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest airline, has initiated transit flights from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, connecting various regional and international cities. The move aims to enhance connectivity between African countries and the rest of the world.

In a related development, the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Musa Nuhu, emphasized that SAATM serves as a catalyst for the successful implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) by facilitating the movement of people and goods across the continent.

The transit international flights introduced by Air Peace include routes from Accra to Mumbai and Jeddah, as well as from Dakar to Jeddah and Mumbai. Regional transit flights include routes from Accra to Freetown, Douala, Dakar, and Banjul, as well as Monrovia to Lome. The airline aims to create a Transit Hub at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.