By Nnasom David

Nigeria and Venezuela have reaffirmed their resolve to strengthen bilateral relations, pledging to extend their longstanding cooperation beyond oil and into aviation and other economic sectors.

A statement signed by Emameh Gabriel, Personnel Assistant on Media/Research to the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development on Media/Research, noted that, the move was underscored on Monday when the Venezuelan Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Alberto Castellar Padilla, paid a courtesy visit to Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in Abuja.

Ambassador Padilla, speaking during the meeting, praised the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for notable improvements in the aviation sector and proposed a new chapter in Venezuela-Nigeria relations.

“Our nations share more than just OPEC membership, we share history, values, and a vision for a connected future.

“This is why our government is ready to operationalise the agreement we signed in 2022 for direct flights from Caracas to Nigeria. It is time to take that leap forward,” Padilla stated.

According to the Ambassador, Venezuela’s national airline, CONVIASA, is prepared to launch direct routes to either Abuja or Lagos, pending the approval of the Nigerian authorities.

“We have completed all necessary technical and logistical arrangements.

“Now, we await Nigeria’s final consent to begin operations. This direct airlink will enhance business, tourism, and cultural exchange, and as we mark sixty years of diplomatic relations, it is the perfect symbol of our enduring friendship,” he said.

In his response, Minister Keyamo welcomed the initiative and assured the visiting envoy of Nigeria’s readiness to facilitate the process.

“We are excited by Venezuela’s offer and the commitment shown.

“Often, the stumbling block in such partnerships is the absence of a designated carrier. In this case, Venezuela has taken the lead. We are forming a joint committee with officials from the Ministry and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to work swiftly on the required protocols,” Keyamo said.

The Minister added that the direct service would significantly reduce travel time between Africa and South America, which currently involves layovers in the Middle East or Europe.

“A direct flight from Nigeria to Venezuela takes just about seven hours.

 “But today, travelers are forced to route through places like Doha or Dubai, which can take up to 24 hours. This partnership will remove that bottleneck and open new opportunities for trade and diplomacy,” he explained.

The both countries emphasized that the renewed collaboration between Nigeria and Venezuela goes beyond politics, extending into economic empowerment, cultural exchange, and people-to-people connectivity.