Uganda to begin direct flight to Abuja – Commissioner

Onwubuke Melvin

The government of Uganda has sought increased business collaboration with Nigeria while pledging to soon add Abuja to its airline routes.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this via its official X page on Thursday.

The ministry noted that the agreement was reached when its High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Nelson Ocheger met with Nigerian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar to discuss the promotion of trade and commerce between Uganda and Nigeria.

The Uganda High Commissioner revealed that the two countries have discussed and made progress in reaching an agreement to review bilateral relation on different sectors such as energy, oil and gas, defense and security cooperation, education and others.

Ocheger seized the moment to call for the scaling up of bilateral relations for the advancement of both countries.

He was pleased to note that Uganda and Nigeria have made a commitment to deepening their economic, commercial and political cooperation.

The Ugandan ministry stated, “Uganda’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, H.E. Amb. @NelsonOcheger, held a meeting with Hon. Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of #Nigeria, @NigeriaMFA in Abuja.

“The two principals underscored the need to scale up this relationship by increasing interactions in business, #trade, #investment, #tourism, and knowledge sharing.

“Ambassador Ocheger reiterated the commitment of @GovUganda to increasing interactions with #Nigeria by creating an enabling environment for the private sector to do business.

“To this end, @UGAirlines commenced direct flights between Entebbe and Lagos, and will soon add Abuja to the route.”

Tuggar noted Nigeria’s age-long relations with Uganda and promised to keep it strengthened.

He tweeted on Thursday, “The longstanding relationship between NigeriaUganda, characterized by historical connections and diplomatic exchanges, is further solidified by my meeting with @UgandaMFA High Commissioner @NelsonOcheger , highlighting our commitment to strengthening economic & political ties.”

In 2023, Uganda airline announced to fly directly from its base at the Entebbe International Airport to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos effective Thursday, October 19, 2023.