Abba Hamisu Sani
Africa-Press – Nigeria. The Nigerian economy needs more backup as it is heavily defended on oil as other important sectors like Aviation are not receiving the attention they deserve.
With the recent move made by the Nigerian government, trying to revive the business bilateral that exists between the African largest economy and Pakistan through the Aviation sector is a commendable effort made by the outgoing administration of President Buhari.
The two countries which are all members of the commonwealth of nations and Organization of Islamic countries stand to benefit more when the two countries that have large populations are connected through their Aviation sectors.
To cement that relationship Nigerian Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika has recently visited the Asian Country
The aim of the Nigerian Minister of Aviation Visit to Pakistan
In a bid to boost trade volume between Nigeria and Pakistan, which is currently pegged at $210m, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Aviation, is working out modalities to begin direct air services to Pakistan.
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, led a delegation to Islamabad, Pakistan, where he met with different government officials in civil aviation, trade, and commerce to foster economic and trade relations.
James Odaudu is the Special Assistant to the Nigerian Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika on media.. He said the mission, which was facilitated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria in collaboration with the Africa Center for Asia +B Studies enabled the minister to engage with the acting secretary of Pakistan’s Ministry of Aviation, the president of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the country’s minister of commerce.
The statement disclosed that at the meeting with the Acting Secretary of Aviation of Pakistan, Mr Hassan Nafir, Sirika and his host agreed to take concrete steps towards the commencement of direct flights between Nigeria and Pakistan, in order to promote trade and tourism.
It was also disclosed that they agreed that the subsisting Bilateral Air Services Agreement between Nigeria and Pakistan should be revitalized within the shortest possible time.
To actualise the plan, a directive was given to officials of both countries present at the meeting to immediately meet to review the BASA and come up with a workable Memorandum of Understanding that would ensure the early commencement of direct flights.
They both expressed the view that the volume of passenger traffic should quadruple from the 7,300 recorded last year, as it was noted that the two countries have the advantage of a large population that would make the dream a reality. According to the statement.
Receiving the minister of aviation and his delegation, the President of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Ahsan Bakhtawari, expressed delight for the minister’s visit as it would provide the latitude to lay a solid foundation for the promotion of trade relations between Nigeria and Pakistan.
He decried the volume of trade between Nigeria and Pakistan, valued at $210 million, and stated that efforts should be made towards improving it, through the promotion of business to business talks, the establishment of the Nigeria Pakistan Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, and visit of trade delegations from both sides.
The imperative of direct flights from Nigeria to Pakistan
The President of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce was of the view that trade between Nigeria and Pakistan could only be bolstered if there was a direct flight linking both countries and urged the minister to facilitate it.
According to Sirika, flight connectivity has a greater role in cementing bilateral and economic relations between friendly nations of the world.
He promised to facilitate the process before the end of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, whose government had done so well to promote the development of civil aviation in Nigeria.
At the meeting with Mr. Syed Qamar, the Pakistani minister of commerce, Sirika and his host agreed that efforts should be made to improve the level of trade between both countries and air link was identified as one of the major catalysts. The need for both governments to look at the issue of visa restrictions was stressed for the purposes of boosting trade, tourism and commerce.
Sirika urged the business leaders of Pakistan to leverage on the opportunities in all sectors of the Nigerian economy as the country is the best destination for investment in Africa .
With this development, Nigeria and Pakistan will soon be strong integral business partners as the two countries have enough human and natural resources to benefit from one another.
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