Photo caption: Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo
The Federal Government has started a review of its Bilateral Air Service Agreement process with Jamaica to enable a direct flight arrangement between both countries.
The media aide to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, Tunde Moshood, made this known on Wednesday, referencing a meeting between the Jamaican Ambassador to Nigeria, Lincoln Downer, and the minister.
He disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, which indicated that the two leaders discussed this position on Tuesday in Abuja when Jamaica’s ambassador visited Keyamo in his office.
According to the statement, Downer, in his address, expressed his deep appreciation for Nigeria, revealing an intriguing discovery from his four months as the Jamaican envoy to Nigeria.
The ambassador emphasised the potential for mutually beneficial diplomatic engagements between Jamaica and Nigeria. He extolled the importance of improving and enhancing bilateral relations, including reviewing the BASA arrangements between the two countries.
Downer lamented that Jamaica currently lacked a national carrier and relies on neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago for air transport. He proposed the idea of combining the BASA between Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago to address the air services gap, underscoring the increasing demand for travel from Nigeria to Jamaica.
He said, “I have since discovered that Nigeria might be my ancestral home after all. I have been tasked by my country to review and improve on the diplomatic engagements between Jamaica and Nigeria, especially concerning air services.”
Downer further shared the growing interest in Nigerian culture, particularly Afrobeat music and Nollywood films, which he said were trending in Jamaica. This cultural exchange, he noted, further reinforces the need for enhanced diplomatic and air connectivity between the two countries.
“There is no reason why we should not have a direct flight between our countries. Nigerians love Jamaica, and there is a rising demand for Jamaican spices in Nigeria,” he added.
In his response, Keyamo welcomed the ambassador’s proposals and expressed his eagerness to take the next steps at actualizing the BASA review and good relationship between the duo.
Keyamo also promised to set up a committee to expedite the process and plans.
