KEY POINTS
- Senate rejects the proposal to revive Nigeria Air.
- Lawmakers seek direct flights and reciprocal aviation access with China.
- Senate calls for easier business visas and a viable Nigerian-owned airline.
The Nigerian Senate has rejected a proposal to revive the defunct Nigeria Air project, instead urging the Federal Government to renegotiate its aviation agreement with China to enable Nigerian airlines to operate direct commercial flights to the Asian country.
The lawmakers said the existing Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and China should be reviewed to address the imbalance in air travel arrangements and ensure that Nigerian carriers enjoy reciprocal access to the Chinese aviation market.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senate Chief Whip, Senator Tahir Monguno, who called for the enforcement and review of the agreement to strengthen Nigeria’s aviation sector and improve economic relations with China.
Senate seeks balanced aviation agreement
Monguno argued that Nigeria and China have substantial populations of each other’s citizens, creating significant demand for direct air connectivity between the two countries.
He noted that improved air links would reduce travel time, facilitate the movement of goods, strengthen supply chains and promote commercial activities between Nigerian businesses and their Chinese counterparts.
According to the senator, Nigeria must take advantage of its position as Africa’s most populous country and one of the continent’s largest economies to secure more favourable terms in its aviation relationship with China.
He also highlighted the economic implications of the current arrangement, arguing that direct flights operated by Nigerian airlines could help reduce foreign exchange outflows associated with international travel and improve the competitiveness of domestic carriers.
The Senate maintained that a more balanced agreement would allow Nigerian airlines to compete more effectively while supporting trade, tourism and investment between both countries.
During deliberations, Senator Abdul Ningi expressed concern that Nigeria was not receiving commensurate benefits from its economic relationship with China, despite the Asian country’s growing influence in global trade and commerce.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio also warned that Nigeria might need to reconsider the privileges granted to Chinese airlines if Nigerian carriers continued to face restrictions or were denied equivalent opportunities to operate direct flights to China.
His position underscored the need for reciprocity in bilateral aviation arrangements, with lawmakers insisting that access granted to foreign airlines should be matched by comparable opportunities for Nigerian operators.
The Senate subsequently urged the Federal Ministry of Aviation to renegotiate the existing agreement with China to establish direct commercial air links between both countries.
