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Nigerian envoys in Liberia, Sierra Leone seek Africa’s integration through air transport
- Lament lack of air connectivity in region
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said notwithstanding Africa’s growth drivers, the continent’s huge potential for air transport is under-explored.
He stated that Africa’s failure to integrate and liberalize its intra-regional air transport market has been cited as a significant reason why growth in the air transport market has not reached its huge potential.
Special Representative of the President of ECOWAS Commission in Liberia, Amb. Tunde Ajisomo told Woleshadare.net at the Robertsfield International Airport, Monrovia, when Medview Airlines made inaugural flight services to Freetown, Sierra Leone and Monrovia, Liberia that liberalisation reduces and/or eliminates unnecessary restrictions, allowing more players in the industry with free access to markets.
He said the Liberian President was of the view that allowing Medview Air services to Freetown would promote regional integration, trade and transform ECOWAS, with the choice of people moving freely from Liberia to Sierra Leone, Accra via Lagos.
His words, “I want to tell members of the media that we are trying to promote trade and the aviation industry promotes catalytical benefits. Leadership of ECOWAS are very happy with what is happening now. We look forward to having daily flight to Monrovia.”
The envoy stated that air services to the two cities would help to deepen intra African trade relations between Ghana, Sierra Leone and Liberia, adding that flight services by the carrier have again rekindled hope of integration in the West Africa sub region.
Air travel within West Africa is said to be cumbersome as travellers most times go to Europe or North Africa to connect flights back to continent.
Speaking in the same vein, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Mrs. Gladys Modupeola Quiest Adebiyi, while fielding questions from journalists at the Freetown International Airport, said that airlines that are indigenous to Nigeria are helping them in their diplomatic job and helping to deepen their relationship with other countries.
She stated that insufficient integration and a lack of an open skies policy are major barriers to air transport growth in the continent.
Open air agreements allow carriers of two or more countries to operate any route between the countries without interference in decisions about routes, capacity and pricing, making it easier for carriers to provide affordable, convenient and efficient air service for consumers.
Nigeria is a signatory to the Yamoussoukro Decision that liberalises air transport services in Africa. So far, over 15 nations have signed the pact that makes carriers to operate without barriers.
To overcome the challenges of air transport growth, the 1999 Yamoussoukro Decision (YD) sought to integrate air transport between African states.
It concerned the liberalization of intra-African air transport services, granting state parties free exercise of rights on passenger, cargo and/or mail flights.
It also required states to grant first to fifth freedom rights (subject to limitations for fifth freedom rights), fair competition and compliance with international safety standards. Unfortunately, progress has been slow in implementation.
Adebiyi implored other Nigerian airlines to work with the Federal Government in helping to open more routes in the region.
Her words, “Nigeria is a very serious country with viable professionals and we take our jobs very seriously and this would lead to having people invest in the country. The airlines are Nigeria’s ambassadors. They apart from we diplomats are also ambassadors of Nigeria; that is why am happy that Medview is launching this route today and like the CEO said that they are going to keep to faith what they have told us.”
“We ask other airlines to work with the President and do things the proper way and reflect who we are. Nigeria should be given its pride of place in the whole of Africa. We are a great country and a great people. We are very resilient people and very hard working people. I want to tell any airline or anybody doing business in Nigeria like the President said, very soon we will get out of this recession.”
Chief Executive of West African Tourism Organisation, Ms. Ola Wright lauded Medview for deepening intra African trade relations as the carrier launched services to Monrovia and Freetown through Accra, Ghana.
She stated that tourism is challenged because of air connectivity that stunts tourism.
“We need to develop regional tourism and air link is key. It is really problematic to connect from one destination to the other.”
