Niger govt partner private airline to commence flight operations 

By  Daniel Ebi, Minna 

In an effort to boost  commercial activities, Niger State Government has partnered Overland Airways to commence commercial flights from the Minna international Airport. 

The agreement between Niger State Government and Overland Airways to begin commercial flights at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport Minna is to commence from the Airport on April 23, 2025.

The commercial flights scheduled  are for Lagos and Abuja from the effective date of  April 23, 2025.

Under the term of the  agreement,  Overland Airways is to operate three weekly flights on the Minna-Lagos- Lagos- Minna route.

The commencement of the commercial flight is one of the initiatives of Governor Umaru Bago who has for long been advocating commercial flights to begin at the BAT International Airport Minna.

Governor  Bago  said  such airlink  will go a long way to help boost growth and development of the State as these flight services will pave the way for enhanced trade through economic activities within and outside the State.

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The development  is  in tandem with the vision of the Governor in seeing a new Niger operating in line with global best practices is also expected to boost tourism and woo more investors to the State and in the long run, improve the livelihood of citizens of the State.

The Governor spokesman, Bologi Ibrahim  said ” under the leadership of farmer Umaru Bago did not settle for less in choosing Overland Airways which is adjudged to be Nigeria’s longest serving domestic airline having recently renewed its IOSA safety certification for the 5th consecutive time and  reaffirming its position as a safe and leading African Carrier.

Overland Airways is equally an airline company registered to operate charter and scheduled passenger and cargo flights and is a member airline of the International Air Transport Association

(IATA) and the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), the umbrella association of airlines from African Union States.

The operation of Overland Airways is to be checkmated by the New Niger Aviation (NNA), a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) under the New Niger Development Project (NNDP), established to manage and enhance the aviation sector in Niger State.

Former Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu  had in 2014 had entered a similar agreement with Overland for commercial flights from the Minna international Airport, but the  agreement fell through as the State government could not keep to the terms of the agreement.