NAMIBIAN national carrier, Air Namibia recently launched its inaugural flight into Nigeria signaling the commencement of flights between Windhoek, Namibia’s capital and Lagos, Nigeria.
Welcoming the airline to the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos with the cutting of well decorated cake that bore the airline’s logo, the High Commissioner of Namibia to Nigeria, Dr Peingeondjabi Titus Shipoh, expressed his excitement to see the country’s national airline berth in Lagos.
While saying Nigeria and Namibia shared a long history of solidarity and cooperation, dating back to the years of struggle for the decolonisation of Southern Africa, Shipoh recalled how Nigeria played a strong pivotal role in campaigning for Namibia’s decolonisation.
“It is an honour to welcome you to the inaugural flight of Air Namibia to Lagos from Windhoek City in Namibia.
“Today the political struggle is on and we continue to enjoy peace and stability; however, the fight for economic emancipation of Africa remains to be won. Africa is now the new economic frontier. Africa needs to deepen intra-Africa trade to facilitate integration and derive tangible benefits from globalisation,” he said.
The High Commissioner said the role of transport and logistics sector has become extremely important for the African continent.
The airline which started with four times a week flight said the successful opening of the Lagos route was the actualisation of long term plan to connect many countries in West Africa to Southern Africa and other parts of the continent.
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While applauding Air Namibia for taking advantage of the African open skies, the High Commissioner said the commencement of flight to Nigeria by Air Namibia represented opening of a new and more dynamic chapter in furthering and consolidating relationship between Nigeria and Namibia.
Speaking on the occasion, the General Manager, APG, the General Sales Agent (GSA) of Air Namibia in Nigeria, Chike Ohiagu said there has been positive response to the flight of the airline to Nigeria with huge requests for Air Namibia’ flight tickets.
The Nigerian High Commission in the Republic of Namibia who was represented by Uwem Johnson said that there was huge potential market for the airline in Nigeria and expressed the hope that in few months the airline would have daily flight from Windhoek to Lagos.
Spokesman of Air Namibia, Paul Nakawa who represented the management of the airline said it was a dream come true that Air Namibia now operates to Lagos.
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