Nigeria-South Africa Aviation Stakeholders Forum Holds in Lagos

The first Nigeria-South Africa aviation stakeholders engagement forum has taken place in Lagos, with a call from aviation stakeholders to harness the many benefits of the bilateral relationship between both countries as well as simplify the ease of doing business, especially with respect to immigration bottlenecks.

The cocktail event which was held at the ultra-modern Radisson Blu Hotel, Lagos Ikeja on Saturday, 18 February, 2023, was organised by the Consulate General of South Africa in Nigeria, in partnership with Aviators Africa.

In attendance were members of the diplomatic community from both Nigeria and South Africa, including Dr. Bobby J.Moroe, the Consul-General of South Africa in Nigeria, and Greg Munyai from the department of Trade and Investment, South Africa High Commission in Nigeria.

Welcoming dignitaries to the event, the CEO of Aviators Africa, Toni Ukachukwu, said that the Nigeria-South Africa aviation stakeholders engagement forum was being facilitated by Aviators Africa to drive the development of a mutually beneficial business relationship between both countries, with focus on the Aviation industry.

"Aviators Africa is proud to identify with and facilitate the Nigeria-South Africa aviation stakeholders engagement forum because of the strategic importance of aviation to Nigeria and South Africa. We've been at the forefront of facilitating such engagements across Africa in order to forge mutually beneficial partnerships among stakeholders." Mr Ukachukwu said.

In his own remarks, Dr. Bobby J.Moroe, the Consul-General of South Africa in Nigeria, who was physically present, said that the purpose of the meeting was to update stakeholders on the efforts made by the South African government to improve immigration services to better explore opportunities between Nigeria and South Africa with a particular focus on the Aviation sector.

According to him, South Africa and Nigeria have, since the past 29 years of their formal diplomatic relations, signed over 36 bilateral agreements, memorandum of understanding (MoUs) and letters of intent (LOIs), including aviation related agreements which, over the years, have been difficult to implement.

"Over the years, we have placed aviation inside a box, confining it to simply the movement of people between South Africa and Nigeria. In the past one year, we have agreed, as a government of South Africa, to be intentional in implementing the agreements that have been signed with various stakeholders". Dr Bobby J.Moroe said.

"South Africa and Nigeria have established a business forum and immigration roundtable which among other things, seek to unlock existing documents as far as immigration issues are concerned for business people of both countries, particularly the issuance of visas." he added.

The Nigeria-South Africa aviation stakeholders engagement forum was attended by dignitaries from the business community, including David King and Paul van den Brink both from Cape Town Air Access, Wesgro, South Africa. Others were Sam Iwuajoku, Chairman Executive Jet/Quits Aviation, Siza Madiba, CEO Execujet, Otunba Olu Obafemi, Chairman Eagle Airways, Gbolahan Abatan, President Air First Group, and Muyiwa Akinyemi, Group Deputy Managing Director UBA.

The well-attended exclusive event also had in attendance, representatives of several African airlines, including South African Airways, Kenya Airways, Air Côte d’Ivoire, Dana Air, Ibom Air, Aero Contractors, Green Africa, Overland Airways, Omni Blu, and Aventefly. Members of the aviation media were also in attendance.

The highly engaging networking evening afforded aviation stakeholders and professionals the much needed opportunity to exchange notes and share their views on issues of common interests and mutual benefits to both countries.

One of the highlights of the event was the interactive question and answer session which focused mostly on business opportunities, immigration issues, especially visa validities, visa denials, passport return policies, and general difficulties faced by Nigerians applying for South African visas.

Responding to the questions and issues raised, the delegates from both South Africa High Commission South Africa Consular General in Nigeria, promised to look into some of the immigration challenges with a view to finding lasting solutions to the diplomatic bottlenecks currently faced by Nigerians.

To wrap up the intimate evening, a raffle draw saw three dignitaries winning free wellness packages at the 5-star Amani Spa & Wellness located at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Lagos Ikeja.

The Nigeria-South Africa aviation stakeholder engagement forum is first in a series of more fora designed to explore the business opportunities between Nigeria and South Africa as well as promote diplomatic dialogues on how to minimze immigration challenges.