The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved the ratification of bilateral air transport agreement between Nigeria and the US.
The Information and Culture Minister, Lai Mohammed announced this to State House Correspondents while briefing them at the end of the 10th virtual cabinet meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Mr Mohammed, who spoke on behalf of his Aviation counterpart, Hadi Sirika, said: “The Aviation Minister presented a memo today on the approval of ratification for the air transport agreement between the federal government of Nigeria and the United States of America.
“The Minister sought council’s approval for ratification of this air transport agreement between USA and Nigeria.
“You will recall that both the United States and Nigeria are parties to the Chicago convention on the 7, December 1994. Article 6 of the convention actually urge parties to sign air services agreement with member states to improve social, political and economic ties.”
He further said the ratified agreement will boost Nigeria’s quest to have its own airliner.
“The US has signed its own and Mr President and council graciously accepted today to also ratify this approval, so as of today as soon as 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 services and transport by this bilateral agreement to strengthen economic, social and cultural ties between the two countries,” he said.
