The federal government yesterday endorsed the ratification of air transport agreement between Nigeria and the United States of America.
The minister of information and culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed, revealed this while addressing journalists after the 10th virtual federal executive council meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari in Aso Villa, Abuja.
The approval is seen as part of efforts to strengthen air transportation between the two countries.
The agreement is also expected to further boost commercial cargo flights which are usually filled with goods when travelers fly from the US to Nigeria
Statistics show that such flights are near-empty from Nigeria to the US.
Mohammed said the minister of aviation, Mr. Hadi Sirika, brought the matter to the council for consideration
“The aviation minister presented a memo today (Wednesday) on the approval for ratification of the air transport agreement between the federal government and the United States of America
“The minister sought the council’s ratification of the air transport agreement between USA and Nigeria.
You will recall that both United States and Nigeria are parties to the Chicago Convention on the 7th of December, 1994. Article 6 of the convention actually urges parties to sign air services agreement with member states to improve social, political and economic ties.
“The US has ratified its own and Mr. President and council graciously accepted today to also ratify this agreement.
“So, today (yesterday), Mr. President signed valid agreement of air transport service between Nigeria and the US with the attendant benefits for both countries, especially as Nigeria is working towards having its own full national airline.
“So, we’ll now take advantage of this air transport bilateral agreement to strengthen economic, social and cultural ties between the two countries,” said Mohammed.
The minister expressed hope that Nigerians would take advantage of the bilateral agreement to strengthen economic, social and cultural ties between the two countries.
