Direct flight to Gabon will boost trades with Nigeria – Envoy

Gabonese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Corentine Hervo-Akendengue, has hailed the decision of Arik Air to operate to the Central African nation, saying direct flight from Nigeria to Libreville would boost trade between the two countries.
He spoke at the inaugural flight of Libreville from Lagos en-route Port Harcourt at the weekend.
The ambassador said both countries have something in common, adding that many Nigerians live in Gabon.
Gabon is an oil producing nation, and oil and gas companies in Nigeria have longed for direct connection between Nigeria and Gabon.
He said by introducing a direct flight between the two countries, Arik Air had solved the problem being faced by corporate organizations and Nigerians who live in Gabon.
Many Nigerians used to spend two days or more to connect either of the countries, but direct flight takes about one and a half hours.
Arik Air’s Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Suraj Sundaram said the two countries would increase trade ties.
“A lot of Nigerians from the South East travel to Libreville on regular basis and we also have corporations that are dominant in Nigeria which transact business in Gabon because the two countries are oil producing, so there is a lot of traffic between the two points. It is in the interest of the two countries that there should be direct flight services,” Sundaram said.
The flight would be operated three times weekly while the frequencies would be expanded based on demand, he said.
He said the airline planned the flight in a way that there is a late evening departure from Lagos and this enables all domestic flights to come into Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt to make the necessary connections.