Yuletide: United Nigeria Airlines to connect Kano, Southeast

he chairman of United Nigeria Airline (UNA), Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, has assured that flights from Kano to the South East states will commence before the Christmas season to afford travellers faster ease of movement.

He gave this assurance on Wednesday in response to the request of the Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, who urged him to open up routes between Kano and the South East when he led the management team of the airline to pay a courtesy visit to the palace.

The Emir said he is confident that the addition of Kano to UNA’s destinations will further help the development of the economy of the state.

He commended Prof. Obiora for keeping to his promise that the airline would commence Kano operations before the end of the year, saying that it shows he has integrity.

“When Prof. Obiora came here some months ago, he promised me that he will ensure that United Nigeria begins its Kano operations and today, he has fulfilled that promise. This is how you know someone who has integrity. When you make a promise, you keep it and I am very happy this promise has come to fruition. The tradition of being a commercial center is well known and I hope that with the addition of Kano to the routes, it will be a catalyst for more development. You are assured of my continued support and my hope is that there would be flights to link Kano to the South East states where we have a huge population of Igbos. Given the long standing relationship between Kano and the South East, if a route is open between Kano and the South East, it would further boost economic development in the region and in Kano as well,” he said.

Responding to the Emir’s request, Prof. Obiora expressed his gratitude for the support the palace has given the airline since its inception and promised that there would be flights from Kano to the South East to enable ease of movement for the festive season. The airline currently operates to Anambra, Enugu and Owerri.

The Emir then commended the Azman Group President who is also the President of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Abdulmunaf Sarina, who he said helped in facilitating the visit and has shown solidarity to other airlines.

“Some months ago, the Azman chairman came here with the chairman of Air Peace and Prof. Okonkwo and he has been a source of support to them. I am happy that there is no rivalry between them, rather what we see is collaboration and healthy competition which is great for the aviation industry,” the Emir said.

Meanwhile, Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has described the inaugural flight of United Nigeria Airline (UNA) into the City of the Caliphate as historic.

The traditional ruler and the governor joined UNA’s inaugural flight to Sokoto from Abuja on onboard its Airbus A320-200 aircraft after which he received the airline’s team led by its chairman, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, at his palace.

Speaking during the courtesy visit, the Sultan expressed joy at the decision of the airline to commence Sokoto operations, revealing that he has known Prof. Okonkwo for many years and when he wanted to start the airline, he informed him (the Sultan) and received his blessings.

He promised that the palace would support the airline in anyway possible to succeed in its operations to the state and anywhere else. He regretted the aviation industry in Nigeria was faced with enormous challenges and commended the airline for weathering the storm. According to the Sultan, the plan to link Abuja with Sokoto started about eight months ago and expressed delight that the dream had become a reality.

He said: “United Nigeria Airlines is most welcomed to fly to Sokoto. Obiora told me about this plan eight months ago. I am happy that it has become a reality today. We need to open Sokoto to more airlines and connect more routes from here.

“The business environment is very tight in Nigeria and you have to be strong to remain in business and I know Okonkwo is very strong, having been in politics and I know that the experience he gathered there will spur him on. This is the first time I am flying with any inaugural flight in this country and you did this. If there are challenges you are facing in the sector, please feel free to tell me. May you continue to fly higher, successfully and safety.”

After the visit to the Sultan’s palace, Prof. Okonkwo led his team to the government house where he was received by the governor. While speaking, the governor revealed that he has to suspend all his official engagements in Abuja to receive the airline’s management team.

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