By Emmanuel Nduka
While Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo attended the 2023 Dubai Airshow at the United Arab Emirates, UAE, he met with officials of Emirates Airline to further discuss the resumption of flights to Nigeria, a conversation which yielded positive results, as the airline’s management gave assurance that the resumption of the flight would commence very “soon”.
The UAE officials also affirmed that its Government has granted approval to Nigeria’s carrier – Air Peace, to fly direct into and out of the prime airport in Dubai, a statement made available on Sunday by Odutayo Oluseyi, Head of Press and Public Affairs of the Aviation Ministry.
The statement added that Keyamo also visited the pavilions of leading aviation and aerospace industries in the world to inspect modern technologies that could be of use in driving his five-Point Agenda for the aviation industry in Nigeria, particularly on the improvement of infrastructure and promotion of innovation and creativity in cutting-edge technologies relating to civil aviation.
The minister was also said to have held useful discussions with the representatives of the companies who shared their insights and expertise, and showcased the latest technologies that their companies could offer.
Using the opportunity of the Airshow, the minister on the sidelines, met with the management of Airlin Executive, led by its CEO, Dana Hatcic, a company that indicated interest in establishing an MRO facility in Nigeria.
Keyamo further highlighted the possibility of a maiden edition of the Nigeria Airshow sometime in November 2024, an event which may make Nigeria the first African country to organise such.
The Dubai Airshow which commenced on the November 13, was concluded on November 17. It attracted a considerable number of participants from around the world, including leading aviation and aerospace industry specialists.