Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has urged the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to ease its visa policy for Nigerians, emphasizing the importance of strengthening bilateral ties.
Keyamo made the appeal while signing an amended Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the UAE during the ICAO Global Implementation Support Symposium (GISS) in Abu Dhabi, Dubai.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by Tunde Moshood, Keyamo’s special adviser on media and communications, the agreement was finalized in a high-level meeting with Abdulla Al Marri, UAE’s Minister of Economy.
The amended BASA ensures reciprocal rights for both countries and aims to strengthen aviation collaboration, improving air travel between Nigeria and the UAE.
Keyamo stressed that enhancing connectivity between both nations would not only increase passenger traffic but also boost economic growth on designated routes.
“Easing the current conditions would increase passenger traffic on designated routes, benefiting both nations’ economies,” Keyamo noted.
The UAE Minister of Economy, Abdulla Al Marri, acknowledged his commitment to fostering stronger Nigeria-UAE aviation relations.
“Let me say this on camera now, the Nigeria aviation minister is a man who keeps his words and for us, that’s everything,” Moshood quoted Al Marri as saying.
As part of the agreement, both nations will also sign a technical cooperation deal focusing on capacity building and technical support in aviation safety, regulation, airport facilitation, environmental standards, and security.
