Trinidad Seeks Direct Air-Link with Nigeria

The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago yesterday expressed its willingness to enter into a mutual air travel agreement with Nigeria which will have airlines of both countries operate direct air flights into each other’s airspace.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Ambassador, Mrs. Victoria Mendez-Charles, who indicated her country’s interest to enter into aviation pact with Nigeria during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Babatunde Omotoba, described the air travel exchanges as a means of strengthening and boosting bilateral trade relations between the two nations.

She said presently, air travelers from the Latin American country have to make a stop-over in London before proceeding to Nigeria, a situation that both countries are seeking to change through the agreement.

She noted that Trinidad’s diplomatic relations with Nigeria dates back to 1962, just after its independence and since then the relationship has grown from strength to strength with areas of trade cooperation covering energy, transport, culture and tourism.

The ambassador, said aviation is very important to the development of trade relations between the two friendly countries. “The airspace agreement is intended to open up the skies, conferring rights of entry and exit to each other airspace on airlines from both countries. It will enable airlines from our country to enjoy authority to land at designated airports.

“We see as very important in facilitating the movement of goods and people from both countries. It will enable nationals from Trinidad and Tobago including others from the Caribbean countries to have direct flights to Nigeria to do business with their Nigerian counterparts”, she said.

According to the ambassador, the people of Trinidad and Tobago shares a lot of things in common with Nigeria, being a leading producer of liquefied natural gas, petroleum products as well as sharing strong cultural affinity with the country.