FG Approves New York, Canada, Dubai Routes for United Nigeria Airlines 

The Federal Government has approved several international routes for United Nigeria Airlines, including New York, Canada, and Dubai, in a move aimed at boosting the participation of indigenous carriers in the lucrative global aviation market.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed the development on Thursday during the unveiling of two newly acquired Boeing 737-800 Next Generation (NG) aircraft by the airline in Lagos.

According to the minister, the route approvals form part of the government’s broader strategy to ensure Nigerian-owned airlines secure a larger share of international passenger traffic, which has long been dominated by foreign carriers.

“We are giving United about four or five routes now. We are giving them New York. We are giving you Canada. We are giving you Dubai. We are giving you some very fruitful routes now,” Keyamo said.

Keyamo lamented that foreign airlines currently control between 90 and 95 per cent of passenger traffic from Nigeria to major destinations across the world, despite bilateral agreements that grant Nigerian airlines reciprocal rights to operate those routes.

The minister stressed that the government is determined to empower local carriers to compete effectively on international routes and retain a larger share of aviation revenue within the country.

“That market is our market. It doesn’t belong to anybody. Under those bilateral service agreements, we also have reciprocal rights to run those routes. They have to enter that market and eat part of that market,” he said.

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The minister noted that the newly approved routes were granted ahead of the airline’s full capacity to operate them, expressing confidence in the carrier’s ongoing expansion programme.

The announcement came as United Nigeria Airlines unveiled two newly acquired Boeing 737-800NG aircraft, further strengthening its fleet and operational capabilities.

The aircraft, registered as 5N-CFB and 5N-CFC, were named after His Royal Majesty Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, and legendary Nigerian novelist Professor Chinua Achebe.

The airline said the new aircraft will help improve operational efficiency, reduce flight disruptions, and support its plans for regional and international expansion.

Industry observers see the acquisition as a major milestone in the airline’s ambition to become one of West Africa’s leading carriers.

Keyamo also revealed that President Bola Tinubu approved the establishment of a Nigerian aircraft leasing company designed to support domestic airlines in acquiring aircraft through government-backed financing arrangements.

According to him, access to affordable aircraft financing remains one of the biggest challenges facing local airlines, and the initiative is expected to ease fleet acquisition and expansion.

The minister described the route approvals as the outcome of more than two years of policy reforms and stakeholder engagement aimed at revitalising Nigeria’s aviation sector.

“It took about two and a half years for us to begin to reap the fruits of the policy direction that we laid down,” he said.

Beyond route approvals, Keyamo disclosed that the Federal Government is partnering with the Abia State Government to develop an international airport in the state.

He said United Nigeria Airlines is expected to eventually use the facility as one of its operational hubs, while Enugu International Airport is being positioned as a major cargo hub for the South-East region.

The minister also defended the government’s decision to support private airlines instead of reviving a national carrier, citing the collapse of Nigeria Airways as an example of how political interference can undermine airline operations.

Speaking at the event, Boeing representative Moore Ibekwe commended reforms introduced by the Ministry of Aviation and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

He highlighted recent efforts to improve aircraft financing, technical training, safety standards, and regulatory efficiency, describing them as critical to the future growth of Nigeria’s aviation industry.

Ibekwe also noted that Boeing recently launched a technical training programme in Nigeria to support the development of local pilots and engineers.

According to him, Africa is expected to require about 1,200 new aircraft over the next 20 years, creating significant opportunities for Nigerian airlines.

“When I look at these two aircraft behind us today, I see much more than two airplanes. I see enormous potential. I would like to see United Nigeria grow into a 50-aircraft airline within the next decade,” he said.

The airline’s expansion plans align with previous disclosures by its Chairman, Professor Obiora Okonkwo, who said the carrier intends to significantly increase its fleet and expand beyond domestic and regional operations.

United Nigeria Airlines currently operates across major Nigerian cities and serves regional destinations, including Accra, Ghana.

The airline has outlined plans to launch services to destinations such as London, Rome, Jeddah, Dubai, and New York, as it seeks to establish itself as a major player in international aviation.

For many industry stakeholders, the approval of the new routes represents a significant boost for United Nigeria Airlines and a major step toward increasing Nigeria’s presence in the global aviation market.

FG Approves New York, Canada, Dubai Routes for United Nigeria Airlines

Fixing Nigeria’s Logistics Crisis: Oyetola, Stakeholders Demand Seamless Multimodal Infrastructure

As Nigeria’s logistics and transportation landscape face a critical turning point, top government officials and industry experts have united to demand a shift away from the country’s heavy reliance on road travel.

Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, alongside transport experts and industry stakeholders, specificall called for the urgent integration of road, rail, maritime, inland waterways and aviation networks to accelerate economic growth and reduce logistics costs.

The consensus emerged at the 12th Nigeria Transport Lecture organised by Transport Day Newspapers at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, where participants stressed that Nigeria cannot achieve its full economic potential without a coordinated multimodal transportation framework.

Represented by a director in the ministry, Mrs Rashidat Yusuf, Oyetola described transportation as the backbone of economic development, trade facilitation and industrial growth, noting that the maritime sector remains central to Nigeria’s international trade and must be effectively linked with other modes of transport.

According to the minister, ongoing government investments in maritime security, port modernisation, digital transformation and inland waterway development are already yielding positive results by improving cargo movement, reducing logistics bottlenecks and enhancing investor confidence.

He said recent successes in combating piracy and other maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea have strengthened Nigeria’s position as a regional trade hub, while efforts to improve connectivity between seaports, rail lines and highways are expected to further boost economic productivity.

Oyetola, however, identified infrastructure deficits, weak inter-agency coordination, inadequate maintenance, regulatory bottlenecks and human capacity gaps as major obstacles to the sector’s growth, urging stakeholders to collaborate in addressing the challenges.

Delivering the keynote lecture titled, “Multimodal Transport Safety in Nigeria: Prospects, Challenges and Contribution to National Growth Pursuant to the Renewed Hope Agenda,” former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps and Chairman of the Council of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, warned that Nigeria’s heavy dependence on road transport is undermining safety, increasing costs and limiting economic growth.

Oyeyemi disclosed that nearly 90 per cent of freight and passenger movement in the country is carried out by road, placing enormous pressure on infrastructure, accelerating road deterioration and heightening accident risks. He added that only about 40 per cent of Nigeria’s road network is paved, further compounding the challenge.

The transport expert noted that although Nigeria possesses one of Africa’s largest transportation systems, it has yet to maximise the benefits of a fully integrated multimodal network.

He pointed to ongoing rail projects, including the Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge Railway and the Abuja-Kaduna corridor, as evidence of progress towards reducing pressure on the roads.

He further noted that plans to achieve 24-hour port operations, improve rail connectivity to seaports and expand the commercial use of inland waterways could significantly enhance logistics efficiency and strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

In a lead paper titled, “From Port to Hinterland: Rethinking Safety Governance Along Nigeria’s Intermodal Freight Corridors,” Associate Professor of Transport and Logistics at Lagos State University, Dr Ogochukwu Ugboma, called for a fundamental shift in the management of freight transportation in Nigeria.

She argued that safety should be treated as a governance issue rather than merely an operational concern, stressing that fragmented oversight across different transport modes continues to undermine logistics efficiency and freight safety.

According to Ugboma, more than 85 per cent of cargoes destined for Nigeria’s hinterland leave the ports by road, contributing to congestion, infrastructure damage, truck crashes, cargo theft and supply chain disruptions.

She advocated corridor-based governance, unified safety standards, shared databases, coordinated inspections and real-time monitoring systems to improve freight movement.

Also speaking, the Registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, Mr Kingsley Igwe, said the country possesses immense potential to develop a world-class intermodal transportation system.

He, however, identified inadequate infrastructure connectivity, regulatory fragmentation, poor maintenance culture, security challenges, human capacity deficits and limited deployment of data and technology as major impediments to progress.

Igwe urged the government to accelerate the adoption of water-based transportation, arguing that greater use of inland waterways would ease highway congestion, reduce freight delays and lower logistics costs that contribute to inflation and rising business expenses.

Earlier, the Publisher and Managing Editor of Transport Day Newspapers, Frank Kintum, said the annual lecture was established to provide a platform for regulators, operators and policymakers to identify challenges and develop practical solutions for the transport sector.

Participants at the event unanimously agreed that sustained infrastructure investment, stronger safety governance and seamless integration of all transport modes are critical to building a modern transportation system capable of driving Nigeria’s economic transformation under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Regency Alliance Insurance Launches Rights Issue to Strengthen Capital Base, Drive Expansion

LAGOS – Regency Alliance Insurance Plc has taken a significant step toward strengthening its financial position and accelerating business growth with the formal signing of its Rights Issue Agreement, paving the way for a fresh capital injection aimed at enhancing the company’s competitiveness and long-term sustainability.

The signing ceremony, held at the insurer’s headquarters in Lagos on Wednesday, brought together members of the Board of Directors, management team, issuing house, legal advisers, stockbrokers and other stakeholders, reflecting widespread confidence in the company’s strategic direction and growth prospects.

Under the Rights Issue, Regency Alliance Insurance Plc is offering 3.201 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at 95 kobo per share, on the basis of one new ordinary share for every five ordinary shares currently held by shareholders.

The capital raise is expected to bolster the company’s capital base, improve underwriting capacity and provide funding for strategic investments in technology, product innovation and customer service enhancement.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, the Acting Chairman of Regency Alliance Insurance Plc, Chief Wale Taiwo, SAN, described the development as a major statement of confidence in the company’s future.

According to him, the exercise represents more than a regulatory requirement, noting that it reflects faith in the organisation’s workforce, business strategy and the trust reposed in it by customers and shareholders over the years.

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“Today’s signing is more than a formality. It is a statement of belief – belief in our people, our strategy, and the trust our customers and shareholders have placed in us over the years,” Taiwo said.

He explained that the additional capital would enable the company to respond more effectively to evolving risk landscapes, expand its market reach and strengthen its commitment to policyholders.

“This capital raise will give us the firepower to meet evolving risks, expand our reach, and deepen the promise we make to every policyholder: that Regency Alliance will be there when it matters most,” he added.

Taiwo also expressed appreciation for the continued support of shareholders and urged all eligible investors to fully participate in the offer.

He noted that taking up their rights would not only protect existing investments from dilution but also allow shareholders to benefit directly from the company’s future growth and profitability.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of the company, Mr. Bode Oseni, said the proceeds from the Rights Issue would accelerate Regency Alliance’s ongoing digital transformation agenda and support the development of innovative insurance products targeted at underserved market segments.

According to Oseni, the company remains committed to maintaining its reputation as an agile, customer-focused and financially sound insurer.

“The proceeds from this Rights Issue will accelerate our digital transformation, enhance claims efficiency, and enable us to introduce innovative products tailored to SMEs, Gen Z, and other underserved segments across Nigeria and beyond,” he said.

“We are not merely raising capital; we are raising our ambition.”

He expressed optimism that shareholders would embrace the opportunity and demonstrate confidence in the company’s future by fully subscribing to the offer.

Regency Alliance stated that the Rights Issue is intended to strengthen its solvency position, support business expansion and fund investments in digital infrastructure and new product development.

The company noted that existing shareholders would have the opportunity to subscribe for additional shares in proportion to their current holdings, thereby preserving their ownership interests while participating in future value creation.

Management further said the successful execution of the signing process demonstrates strong confidence among advisers and stakeholders in the company’s corporate governance framework, risk management systems and long-term business strategy.

According to the timetable released by the company, the Acceptance List will open on June 22, 2026, and close on July 3, 2026, during which eligible shareholders are expected to submit their applications.

Regency Alliance Insurance Plc has established itself as one of Nigeria’s leading general insurance providers, offering a broad range of insurance products to individuals and businesses across the country. The company is known for prompt claims settlement, innovative insurance solutions and adherence to strong corporate governance standards.

With the signing of the agreement and the completion of required regulatory approvals, the company said it would proceed with shareholder communications and implementation of the offer in compliance with the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX).

The Board and Management expressed confidence that the Rights Issue would receive strong shareholder support and position the insurer for sustainable growth, enhanced profitability and increased market relevance in Nigeria’s evolving insurance industry.

Regency Alliance Insurance Launches Rights Issue to Strengthen Capital Base, Drive Expansion