Air Peace becomes first Nigerian airline to land in St. Kitts & Nevis.

Air Peace has become the first airline from Nigeria to successfully operate a direct nonstop flight to the Caribbean nation of St. Kitts and Nevis.

The historic flight, which took off from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, was operated using one of Air Peace’s Boeing 777-300 aircraft. Onboard were Nigerian and other African delegates traveling to attend a high-level business conference in St. Kitts, marking the first time a nonstop route has connected the two destinations.

The groundbreaking journey signifies more than just a technical achievement—it represents a bold step in fostering international business, cultural exchange, and travel between Africa and the Caribbean.

Speaking on the achievement, Air Peace stated: “On the 12th of June, 2025, history was made when Air Peace, Nigeria’s leading airline, undertook a direct nonstop flight from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to the Carribean nation of St. Kitts and Nevis, deploying one of its Boeing 777-300s carrying Nigerians and other African nationals attending a business conference in the Carribean Island. This was the first direct nonstop flight from Nigeria to St. Kitts.

Air Peace proudly continues to bridge continents, creating new pathways for business, culture, and global opportunity.

Nigeria to the world, no stops, no limits..”

Aviation and travel experts have hailed the development as a major boost for regional connectivity and a testament to Air Peace’s growing international reputation. The move is also seen as part of Nigeria’s broader vision to deepen ties with countries across the Caribbean and beyond.

With this flight, Air Peace continues to cement its status as a trailblazer in Africa’s aviation industry—connecting Nigeria to the world, with no stops and no limits.

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Direct flights from Algiers to Abuja are set to begin on April 6, 2025, marking a significant milestone in strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between Nigeria and Algeria. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the launch of Air Algérie’s inaugural direct flight service, which will operate using a Boeing 737 aircraft.

This new route is expected to boost connectivity, encourage tourism, and facilitate trade and investment between the two countries. The inaugural flight will carry notable passengers, including the Charge d’Affaires of the Nigerian Embassy in Algiers, Nigerian community leaders, and representatives from the Algerian government.

With affordable fares and Algeria’s proximity to Europe, this flight also offers Nigerians a convenient gateway to Europe, enhancing Nigeria’s position as a regional hub for business, tourism, and transit. The Federal Government has pledged its support to ensure the success and sustainability of this new service.

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has emphasized the need for leaders to develop policies and programs that create opportunities comparable to those in foreign lands, to curb the mass exodus of Nigerians seeking jobs abroad.

Receiving the executives of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) at his country home, Otti stated that the ‘JAPA syndrome’ (a colloquial term for the migration of Nigerians to foreign countries) is a reality that cannot be legislated against, as it is driven by supply and demand.

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“The only response is to create an enabling environment, create jobs, and encourage them to stay back,” Otti said. “If your economy and system don’t look conducive, they will seek refuge in countries that have.”

He stressed that creating a conducive economy is the only way to control the mass exodus of Nigerians to foreign lands for jobs.

In a significant development, the Federal Government of Nigeria has announced that Nigerian passport holders can now obtain visas to travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This milestone comes after successful negotiations between the two countries, marking a new chapter in their diplomatic relations.

The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this on Monday when he briefed State House correspondents following the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

“Following successful talks and extensive, mutually beneficial negotiations between the Government of the United Arab Emirates and the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, an agreement was reached allowing for the resumption of travel to the UAE for Nigerian passport holders,” he said.

“This agreement includes updated controls and conditions to facilitate obtaining a UAE visa“.

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A New Agreement

The agreement, which takes effect from July 15, 2024, includes updated controls and conditions to facilitate the visa application process. This development is a testament to the efforts of both governments to strengthen their ties and promote mutual understanding.

A Diplomatic Row Resolved

The UAE had imposed a visa ban on Nigeria in 2022 due to diplomatic disputes, but the ban has now been lifted. The resolution of this issue is a significant step forward in the relations between the two nations.

A Boost for Travel and Tourism

The resumption of visa issuance will undoubtedly boost travel and tourism between Nigeria and the UAE. Nigerians can now explore the UAE’s vibrant culture, business opportunities, and world-class attractions, while UAE citizens can also visit Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and natural wonders.

A Positive Development for Economic Relations

This development is also expected to enhance economic relations between the two countries. The UAE is a significant trading partner for Nigeria, and the ease of travel will facilitate business interactions, investment, and trade.

A Fruitful Meeting

The agreement is a direct result of the meeting between President Bola Tinubu and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi in September 2023. The meeting aimed to strengthen diplomatic ties and resolve outstanding issues.

Conclusion

The resumption of UAE visa issuance to Nigerian passport holders is a welcome development that promises to strengthen the bonds between the two nations. As travel and economic relations flourish, we can expect a new era of cooperation and mutual benefit.

Emirates Airlines has confirmed its daily operations in Nigeria starting October 1, 2024, offering unrivalled connectivity for Nigerian travelers.

According to information obtained from the airline’s website, Emirates will resume services to Nigeria from 1 October 2024, operating a daily service between Lagos and Dubai, and offering customers more choices and connectivity from Nigeria’s largest city to, and through, Dubai.

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The airline disclosed that “the service will be operated using a Boeing 777-300ER. EK783 will depart Dubai at 0945hrs, arriving in Lagos at 1520hrs; the return flight EK784 will leave Lagos at 1730hrs and arrive in Dubai at 0510hrs the next day. Tickets can be booked now on emirates.com via travel agents.”

The Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates Airlines, Adnan Kazim said, “We are excited to resume our services to Nigeria. The Lagos-Dubai service has traditionally been popular with customers in Nigeria and we hope to reconnect leisure and business travellers to Dubai and onwards to our network of over 140 destinations.

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“We thank the Nigerian government for their partnership and support in re-establishing this route and we look forward to welcoming passengers back onboard.”

The airline further disclosed that with the resumption of operations to Nigeria, “Emirates operates to 19 gateways in Africa with 157 flights per week from Dubai, with further reach to an additional 130 regional points in Africa through its codeshare and interline partnerships with South African Airways, Airlink, Royal Air Maroc, Tunis Air, among others.

“As a major economic hub in Africa, Nigeria and the UAE have built strong bilateral trade relations over the years, headlined by Lagos as the nation’s commercial centre. With the resumption of daily passenger flights, the airline’s cargo arm, Emirates SkyCargo, will further bolster the trade relationship by offering more than 300 tonnes of belly-hold cargo capacity, in and out of Lagos every week.”

The airline said that its cargo arm “will also import vital goods such as pharmaceuticals and electronics as well as general cargo from key markets such as the UAE, India and Hong Kong. Keeping trade flowing seamlessly,” assuring the quick and efficient transportation of the goods.

Further information revealed that “Emirates Boeing 777-300ER serving Lagos will operate with eight First Class suites, 42 Business Class seats and 304 seats in Economy Class,” adding that “customers can tune in to over 6,500 channels of global entertainment, including 23 Nigerian movies,” among others.

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