The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Barrister Festus Keyamo is actively engaging with Middle East aviation leaders at the ongoing Future Aviation Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, according to a statement on Tuesday by his office.
Hosted at the prestigious King Abdulaziz International Conference Centre, the forum marks a pivotal moment for global aviation collaboration.
In a statement, the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Mr. Tunde Moshood said that Keyamo convened a meeting on the sidelines of the conference to deepen ties between Nigeria and the Middle East in the realm of air transportation and logistics. The session was at the behest of Minister of Transport of the State of Qatar, Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti, and the Minister of Transport and Logistics of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Saleh Al-Jasser.
The third edition of the Future Aviation Forum, themed ‘Elevating Global Connectivity’, underscores the importance of fostering innovation, sustainable air travel, and cultural exchange. By bringing together leaders from the aviation sector and adjacent industries, the forum serves as a catalyst for knowledge exchange and business opportunities in a dynamic economic sector.
The Minister expressed gratitude to Al-Sulaiti for his keen interest in Nigeria, affirming the country’s openness to investment in civil aviation and other sectors of the economy. Emphasising the importance of learning from Qatar’s success in airline operations, particularly exemplified by the global acclaim of Qatar Airways, Keyamo sought collaboration to enhance Nigeria’s aviation sector.
A key proposal made by the Aviation Minister involves encouraging Qatar Airways to patronise local catering services on its return trips to Doha from Nigeria. The initiative aligns with the principles of reciprocity outlined in the Bilateral Air Services Agreement and aims to stimulate Nigeria’s local economy.
