Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s minister of aviation and aerospace development, met over the weekend with Mezoued Hosine, the Algerian ambassador to discuss the commencement of Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) arrangements between Nigeria and Algeria.
During a courtesy visit, Hosine expressed his country’s keen interest in launching air services connecting Algeria, Abuja, and Douala.
He specifically requested the minister’s intervention in ensuring that the necessary paperwork is expedited by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to facilitate the commencement of this route, slated to begin operations on April 6, 2024.
In response, Minister Keyamo welcomed the initiative and commended Algeria’s efforts in strengthening aviation ties with Nigeria.
Tunde Moshood, special adviser on media and communications to the minister, said Keyamo promised to expedite all necessary processes to ensure a smooth implementation of the agreement, reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to fostering bilateral cooperation in the aviation sector.
“This development aligns with our broader vision to enhance Nigeria’s aviation connectivity with key international destinations. We will work closely with relevant agencies, particularly the NCAA, to ensure all required formalities are completed as swiftly as possible. This is an opportunity we’ve been waiting for, if we have to go to Cameroon, a neighbouring country that’s less than an hour flight, we have to fly to Togo first, possibly sleep over before coming to our neighbouring Cameroon. This is a welcome development,” Keyamo said.
The meeting signifies a positive step toward bolstering diplomatic and economic relations between Nigeria and Algeria through enhanced air transport connectivity. The proposed Algeria-Abuja-Douala route is expected to facilitate trade, tourism, and economic cooperation between the two nations and beyond.
Keyamo further assured the ambassador of Nigeria’s readiness to support this initiative, underscoring the government’s commitment to improving air travel accessibility and reinforcing Nigeria’s position as a key aviation hub in Africa.
