In order to deepen economic ties and air connectivity, Uganda Airline, on Thursday, launched direct flight from Entebbe International Airport to Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
LEADERSHIP reports that before now, air connectivity between the two countries took 10 hours but has been reduced to three and a half hours as Uganda airlines debuts in Nigeria.
Speaking at the Entebbe route launch press conference in Lagos, the chief executive officer, Uganda Airlines, Jennifer Bamuturaki, said the flight service will be three times a week and will cut travel time from 10 hours to three and half hours.
She stated that the launch of flight services to Lagos by Uganda’s national carrier would help to close the gap for travellers shuttling to the West and East African countries.
“In October 2022, I visited Nigeria and I mentioned that Uganda airlines is coming to Nigeria. I am here with profound pleasure that Uganda airlines is here exactly a year later, October 2023, as we made our maiden flight to Lagos today.
“This flight was exactly three and a half hours. We cut out close to 14 hours from Lagos to Entebbe so that means that if you are flying to Mumbai, Dubai, you don’t need to fly 10 hours just come to Entebbe in three and a half hours and be in Dubai in another four and half hours. If you are going to Mumbai, three and half hours to Entebbe, one hour in transit and another 6 hours into Mumbai so we have closed the gap between Eastern Africa countries and the West,” she said.
Also speaking, the Uganda High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Nelson Ocherger, expressed joy over the inaugural flight of Uganda Airlines to Lagos, saying the approval by the Nigerian government would open a vista of business opportunities to both nations.
He further stated that the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA), exists on reciprocity, adding that his country awaits when Nigerian carriers would commence services to Uganda.
His words, “The importance of air transport underscores the promotion of trade and investment and it gives Africa the opportunity to leverage on all African Union (AU) agenda. We thank the Nigerian government for the necessary approval needed to do this operation.”
“The importance of air transportation is that it remains the major veritable means of connecting the people of Africa and enhancing trade. Air transportation will do well in Africa with its population of over 1.37 billion and urged African nations to leverage the opportunity of Single Africa Air Transport Market (SAATM) to attain the 2065 Africa Agenda.”
Ocherger disclosed that his country through the Uganda Civil Aviation Academy has entered into a partnership with the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria to train Ugandan pilots, engineers, and other aviation professionals.
“There are ongoing efforts to promote technical cooperation and collaboration between the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, and the East African Civil Aviation Academy (EACAA), located in Soroti, Uganda as well as Uganda Civil Aviation Authority and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA),” he said.
While speaking, the minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, said the Ugandan Airline’s operation was an opportunity to bridge West Africa and East Africa air transport hiccups.
Ambassador Tugar, who was represented by the director of Airport Protocol in the Ministry, Ambassador Oludare Folowosele, lamented air connectivity as a major challenge in Africa, wondering why Africans would travel to Europe first before connecting another African city.
He rued wastage of man hours of over 12 hours on a three to four hours flight because of connectivity hiccups, saying, “It is ridiculous to go to Europe before connecting two African neighbouring countries. What we are doing today would lead to wealth creation, shortening travel time from one country to another rather than depend on Europe all the time for flight connections.”
“The journey for Uganda Airlines to commence flight services to Nigeria it would be recalled started on 9th October 2002 in Kampala, Uganda when the two respective Ministers of both countries responsible for Civil Aviation initiated an Air Services Agreement (ASA) with the ultimate desire of bringing about a direct flight from Entebbe, Uganda to Lagos.
“This was further reviewed on January 21st, 2005 with certain provisions. It was a matter of concern that the ASA was never operationalised until October 19th, 2023 with Uganda utilising the designated airline from her side to commence the flight operations,” he explained.
On his part, the minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, stated that aviation remains the best way for Africa to connect her people and promote inter-Africa trade in line with Africa’s 2063 Agenda, as championed by the continent’s leaders.
Keyamo, who was represented by the director of Air Transport Management in the Ministry, Hassan Ejibunu, said Africa must develop it aviation sector for the interest of her citizens
“Aviation has a huge market that should be explored by indigenous African Airlines, as no other Nations can develop the aviation sector for us, except us Africans. We need to do this in the interest of our over 1.37 billion people, which is 17.4 per cent of the world’s population.
“I wish to, therefore, challenge Nigeria’s local airlines to seize the opportunity to start operating regional and continental flights to make SAATM and YD achieve their aims, as envisioned by African leaders.”
