Namibia Seeks Direct Flights to Nigeria, Explores Partnership with Local Airlines

To enhance the air travel between Namibia and Nigeria, the Namibian government is seeking direct flight connections and is open to collaborating with Nigerian airlines to achieve this goal.

This development was disclosed in a statement on Wednesday by Tunde Moshood, the Special Adviser on Media and Communications to Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development. The discussion took center stage during a meeting in Abuja between Keyamo and Humphrey Geiseb, Namibia’s Ambassador to Nigeria.

The talks primarily revolved around the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between the two nations and strategies to improve aviation connectivity. Ambassador Geiseb underscored the historical significance of Air Namibia’s operations, which previously connected Lagos to Accra and facilitated travel between the two countries.

However, he lamented the financial troubles that led to Air Namibia’s shutdown following a government bailout, leaving a critical gap in direct connectivity. Currently, travelers between Namibia and Nigeria must transit through Addis Ababa, with occasional but infrequent flights via TAG Airlines.

“The Ambassador expressed his country’s desire to partner with Nigerian airlines to restore direct connectivity, citing ongoing discussions with Air Peace,” Moshood stated. He also called on Minister Keyamo to engage with more domestic carriers to explore potential partnerships.

Minister Keyamo acknowledged the importance of direct air links and shared his personal experience regarding the challenges of regional connectivity. He referenced the successful Algeria/Lagos/Cameroon flight route, which was established after a proposal from the Algerian Ambassador despite the geographical proximity of Nigeria and Cameroon.

Keyamo further suggested that Xejet, a rising Nigerian carrier currently operating Sierra Leone’s national airline, Air Sierra Leone, could be a viable partner in facilitating direct flights between the two countries.

Addressing Visa Challenges to Boost Trade and Investment

Beyond aviation, Keyamo also raised concerns about visa difficulties between Nigeria and Namibia. He recalled his own experience struggling to obtain a visa despite holding a diplomatic passport.

“He urged the Ambassador to work towards resolving these issues to facilitate smoother travel and open doors for increased trade and investment relations between the two countries,” Moshood added.