The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Allen Onyema, announced this on Monday.

He said the offer could only be possible if the Nigerian government can transport them to a safe and secure airport in any of Sudan’s neighboring countries.

“We are very ready to do it immediately. No time wasting. Any action that would promote national pride, national cohesion, peace, and unity, we are for it.

This comes barely a few hours after the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs revealed the government’s plans to evacuate the stranded Nigerians by road from the Northeast African country.

The statement reads: “Again, Air Peace is willing to evacuate Nigerians stranded in Sudan free of charge if the government can get them to a safe and secure airport in any of the neighboring countries bordering Sudan. Everything must not be left to the government and the government alone.

Airline Chief Executive Jenifer Bamuturaki announced during the 18th Akwaaba Africa Travel and Tourism Market that flights to Lagos will begin before the end of 2022 and that further flights to Abuja will begin in 2023. The precise times and frequencies have not yet been disclosed.

“I am happy to tell you that we, the Uganda Airlines, will begin our flights to Nigeria for the first time in history in December 2022,” said Bamuturaki.

“This will be our first flight to West Africa; we will begin that and then begin to grow slowly. When we come to Nigeria, we will be working through recognized travel agents and tour operators.”

The flag carrier currently offers 11 routes out of its hub in Entebbe, covering an array of destinations across Africa and the Middle East. The thrice-weekly flights to London Heathrow Airport have yet to be given the green light despite significant demand, with no potential launch dates announced

TechEconomy recalls that the trapped funds accrued from ticket sales of foreign airlines. As of March 2022, the total funds were $289m, but three months later, they increased to $464m amid pressure from the airlines.

There have been a series of meetings to address the issue. However, sources close to the matter say that the repatriation of the trapped funds was not in the purview of the Ministry of Aviation but rather the Federal Ministry of Finance.

The $464 million reportedly held by the CBN is the largest amount being withheld by any African country, and in May, the amount grew to over 12 percent higher than the figure from the previous month.

According to Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture, relevant authorities are working towards addressing issues concerning the revenue of foreign airlines that have been trapped in Nigeria.

He stated these on Monday at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, during the tour of the newly commis­sioned terminal at the international wing of the airport.

In his response to a question asked by newsmen on the trapped $464 million of foreign airlines, Mohammed said, “On the trapped funds, I can tell you that the relevant authorities are working hard on that issue.”

Also, Mohammed expressed optimism that the loans obtained by the Federal Government for infrastructure purposes were being judiciously used by the government but regretted that most Nigerian citizens don’t pay taxes to the government.

The Minister appealed to Nigerians to ensure prompt and adequate payment of taxes for the growth of the country.