Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has said that the growing number of Nigerians in Canada is becoming higher ,saying it’s necessary that Nigeria has a direct route to Canada.
He said most flights to Canada are transit and modalities needs to be put in place to support the population there.
In a press statement issued by the Head/Information, Press and Public Affairs, Odutayo Oluseyi, the Minister stated this on Monday in his office when the Canadian High Commissioner in Nigeria paid him a courtesy call, adding that Nigeria is equidistance to most countries in the world and as such should be a major hub in Africa.
Stating that a lot needs to be put in place in terms of infrastructural development in the Nigerian Aviation sector, Keyamo said Nigeria has a long-standing relationship with Canada and may be looking at areas of cargo development since lots of Nigerian eateries are springing up in Canada.
He stated that a focal person from the Ministry will be appointed to firm up arrangement in terms of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Canada and Nigeria as regards direct route, repository, cargo flight and the proposed side meeting in Canada for business investments.
Speaking earlier, the Canadian High Commissioner in Nigeria, H.E Jamie Christoff, stated that Nigeria has a student population of about 18,000 in Canada with a growing population in various sectors.
He said modalities will be put in place to see the possibility of a direct route to Canada.
He said Canada has a large aviation sector of about 20 billion dollars and he is willing to introduce private sector investors to Nigeria.