Keyamo Endorses XEJET as Namibia Seeks Direct Flight with Nigeria
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has suggested XEJET, a Nigerian carrier, as a potential partner for Namibia’s plan to establish a direct flight route between Nigeria and Windhoek.
Keyamo made this known during a meeting with the Namibian Ambassador to Nigeria, Humphrey Geiseb, as stated by his aide, Tunde Moshood, on Thursday.
Geiseb revealed that Namibia is in talks with Air Peace regarding the restoration of direct air connectivity between both countries but did not disclose the stage of the discussions. He emphasized Namibia’s interest in partnering with Nigerian airlines and encouraged Keyamo to facilitate collaborations with domestic carriers.
He also highlighted the historical significance of Air Namibia’s past operations, which connected Lagos to Accra, before the airline ceased operations due to financial challenges. Currently, passengers traveling from Nigeria to Namibia must transit through Addis Ababa, as direct flights are unavailable.
Keyamo, while supporting the initiative, shared his experience with the Algeria-Lagos-Cameroon flight route, which was established following a request from the Algerian Ambassador. He noted that XEJET, which operates Air Sierra Leone, could be a viable option for Namibia’s direct flight plans.
In response, Geiseb assured Keyamo of his commitment to engaging Namibia’s Minister of Aviation for further discussions.
Additionally, Keyamo raised concerns over visa challenges between Nigeria and Namibia, citing his own difficulties obtaining a visa despite holding a diplomatic passport. He urged the ambassador to address these issues to enhance travel, trade, and investment relations between both nations.
Both officials agreed to work together to strengthen aviation cooperation and improve bilateral ties.
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