The Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, says the Federal Government and the government of Cape Verde have concluded an agreement on air services between both countries.
The minister said the move was in line with existing Bilateral Air Service Agreement between Nigeria and Cape Verde as well as the provisions of the Single African Air Transport Market, a flagship project of the African Union Agenda 2063 designed to create a single unified air transport market within the continent.
Sirika was said to have made the disclosure during the first International Civil Aviation Organisation and the World Tourism Organisation Ministerial Conference on Tourism and Air Transport in Africa, held in Sal Island, Cabo Verde from March 27 to 29.
He said the agreement was for Cape Verde to begin flights to Nigeria and also build an embassy in Abuja.
He said, “We have just concluded a meeting with Cape Verde authority and they have signified interest to start flight operations into Nigeria. Cape Verde is willing to exercise their right in the Bilateral Air Service Agreement and hopefully to seek a Nigerian airline that will reciprocate through flight operation into Cape Verde.
“They will start operations into Nigeria very soon and we hope that Nigeria airlines will take the opportunity too, as they have already said they are looking forward to a Nigerian airline to partner with.”
In a Twitter update during the conference, Sirika, through his handle, @hadisirika, had tweeted, “Just signed Yamoussoukro Declaration Implementation document. Meeting with Prime Minister of Cabo Verde on connectivity.”
