The Federal Executive Council (FEC), during a meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, July 29, 2020, approved the ratification of Air Transport Agreement between Nigeria and the United States.
The decision of the Federal Executive Council was disclosed during a press briefing with statehouse correspondents, after the virtual meeting, by the Minister for Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, and the Minister for Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed.
Mohammed, who stood in for the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, said that the air transport bilateral agreement is aimed at strengthening economic and cultural ties between Nigeria and the United States. She said:
“The Aviation Minister presented a memo today on the approval for ratification of the air transport agreement between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the United States of America. The minister sought the council’s approval for ratification of the air transport agreement between USA and Nigeria.
“You will recall that both the United States and Nigeria are parties to the Chicago Convention on Dec. 7, 1994. Article 6 of the convention actually urges parties to sign air services agreement with member states to improve social, political and economic ties. The US has ratified its own and Mr President and council graciously accepted today to also ratify this agreement.
“So, today, Mr President signed valid agreement of air transport service between Nigeria and the US with the attendant benefits for both countries, especially as Nigeria is working towards having its own full national airline.
“So, we will now take advantage of this air transport bilateral agreement to strengthen economic, social, and cultural ties between the two countries.”
This agreement is expected to promote an international aviation system based on competition among airlines from both countries, with minimum government interference and regulation. It will also facilitate the expansion of international air transport opportunities between both countries and will benefit eligible Nigerian airlines.