'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
DAILY COURIER - Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has called for a direct flight from Nigeria to Canada following the increasing number of Nigerians who reside in Canada.
He stated this on Monday, July 22, in Abuja when the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Jamie Christoff, paid him a courtesy call.
The minister, who stated that most flights to Canada were transit, said modalities needed to be put in place to support the population there.
He also said Nigeria is equidistance to most countries in the world and should be a major hub in Africa.
The minister, who said that there was a need for infrastructural development in the Nigerian Aviation sector, added that Nigeria has a long-standing relationship with Canada and may consider cargo development since lots of Nigerian eateries are springing up in Canada.
In a statement by the head of information, press and public affairs of the ministry, Odutayo Oluseyi, the minister stated that a focal person from the ministry will be appointed to firm up arrangements in terms of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Canada and Nigeria as regards direct route, repository, cargo flight and the proposed side meeting in Canada for business investments.
Speaking earlier, the Canadian High Commissioner stated that Nigeria has a student population of about 18,000 in Canada with a growing population in various sectors.
He said modalities will be put in place to see the possibility of a direct route to Canada.
Christoff said Canada has a large aviation sector of about $20 billion, adding that he was willing to introduce private sector investors to Nigeria.
