The Federal government has reiterated its plans to review its Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with other countries to ensure a more balanced and reciprocal agreement.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, stated this at the 48th Annual General Conference and Exhibition of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) in Lagos.
According to the minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Mr Festus Keyamo, the Bilateral Air Services Agreement review aims to address the current imbalance in the agreement, skewed in favored of other airlines.
Mr. Keyamo represented by the Director, Air Transport Management in the ministry, Mr. Hassan Ejibunor said, the move is expected to improve connectivity, position Nigeria as a regional hub for air transportation, and boost the business growth of NANTA members.
“The Ministry under my leadership would continue to ensure that Nigeria’s airlines break new grounds to make air travels safe and convenient for our citizens. We control the market in Africa and we are the most travelled in the African Continent”.
Speaking on the conference, theme “Unlocking Africa’s Potential: Travel and Tourism As Catalyst for Intra-Africa Business, Investment and Trade”, the High Commissioners of Namibia and Rwanda to Nigeria, Mr. Humphrey Geiseb and Christophe Bazivamo stressed the importance of free movement of people without restrictions, citing the example of some African countries that are visa-free or offer visa-on-arrival.
They argued that free movement stimulate business, investment, and trade.
“Nambian gets around 800 to 1,000 travellers from Nigeria to Namibia. Our visa free policy in Rwanda has boosted tourism and economic growth and let me assure you that a visa free Africa can also be safe”.
Travel and Tourism Ambassador Mr. Ikechi Uko gave statistics of trade and movement.
“African countries tend to trade more with nations outside African than with each other according to study and this has brought about quite a lot of distortions and the African Union has put up a particular tools to handle that. But as of today, only 28% of Africa routes allow Africans to travel visa free in Africa in 2023 and this is according to the visa openess report”.
Vice President of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Dr. Allen Onyema, expressed concerns about the lopsided implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).
He warned that such implementation would hinder air connectivity, tourism, and trade.
“We the airlines in Nigeria, we feel that in as much as we support SAATM, there must be a level playing field for everyone. A situation where other African countries will come to Nigeria unfettered and when we apply to their own country they stop you, is that SAATM?”.
President, FTAN, Nkereweum Onung emphasized that, “Travel and tourism offer a unique opportunity for intra-Africa business, investment, and trade. By promoting travel within the continent, we pave the way for deeper cultural exchanges, stronger business collaborations, and increased investment flows”.
In her opening remarks, President of NANTA, Susan Akporiaye, called on African leaders to remove barriers that hinder socio-economic growth and development on the continent, and to open doors to new opportunities for the future.
“The best values for us in NANTA today is the very present and effectual collaboration to which we deliberately pursued with all the relevant agencies of Government in the travel and tourism space. NANTA is the Iroko tree of Nigeria Travel and Tourism sector, and we must continue to manage our strength our victories and not be afraid about new exploits and challenges”.
Highlight of the conference was declaring open the exhibition stand.