The Ugandan Minister of Works and Transport, Katunba Wamala, has called on the Federal Government to review the visa regime between the two nations to promote inter-Africa connectivity.
The minister made the appeal at the inaugural launch of the Nigeria-Uganda Business Forum at the weekend in Abuja.
He applauded Nigeria for joining the Single Africa Air Transport Market, but said the visas were still expensive and represented a significant barrier to travel.
He said: “For instance, a Ugandan needs to pay about $200 to acquire a visa to Nigeria. This, on the average, represents two to four bed nights for someone wishing to visit and explore new places in Nigeria. Without visa fee, this money can still enter our respective economies due to increased travel and business.
“Therefore, we request a review of the visa regime between our respective nations so as to promote Inter-Africa connectivity.”
While applauding the commencement of direct flight from Uganda into Lagos and Abuja, Wamala said there was an urgent need to address the huge connectivity gaps that still plagued the African continent.
He pointed out that a study on underserved markets that was published recently by Airbus spotlighted West Africa as one of the most underserved markets by air services in Africa, saying the study exposed an existing air connectivity gap between East Africa and Abuja, as there had been no direct air service between the capitals of the East African community and Abuja.
He said the commencement of flight had opened a gateway for the people of Abuja and Nigeria in general to travel through Entebbe to other parts of Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, and called on Nigerians to harness the opportunities and develop cultural exchanges.
Nigeria’s Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Doris Anite, in her address also noted that the direct flight would unlock the economic potential between the two countries and reduce travel time, increase efficiency, and foster greater collaboration between businesses, and enable them to tap into new markets, access new customers, and explore new opportunities that abound in both countries.
