The Plateau State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with United Nigeria Airlines to introduce scheduled flight operations on two new routes, linking Jos with Kano in the North-West and Owerri in the South-East.
Under the agreement, flights to each destination will commence this month and would operate twice weekly. The MoU was signed on Monday, November 9, in the office of the Commissioner for Transport, Jatau Gyang in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
Speaking after the signing, Gyang said the partnership is part of the state’s effort to position Plateau as a leading destination for investment, tourism, commerce and economic opportunity. He thanked United Nigeria Airlines’ management for its confidence in the state’s vision.
The government said the Jos–Owerri route will improve connectivity for residents of Plateau and neighbouring states to the South-East and South-South, while the Jos–Kano route will strengthen links with the North-West.
“The choice of Owerri and Kano as destinations for this partnership is strategic and deliberate, taking into consideration their geographical locations, economic relevance and potential to facilitate connectivity across different geopolitical regions of Nigeria.
“The Jos–Owerri route is particularly significant because of Owerri’s proximity and accessibility to the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones. This connection is expected to provide residents of Plateau State and neighbouring states with improved access to these two important regions, thereby facilitating trade, investment, tourism, social interactions and other economic activities.
“Similarly, the Jos–Kano route is designed to strengthen Plateau State’s connectivity with the North-West geopolitical region. Kano, being one of the major commercial and industrial centres in Northern Nigeria, offers enormous opportunities for business partnerships, trade and economic exchanges,” Gyang said.
While responding on behalf of United Nigeria Airlines, the Managing Director, Mazi Osita Okonkwo made it clear that the MoU is unique because it links the South East, South-West and North-Central. He said Plateau State is special and strategic, and that United Nigeria Airlines is out to make sure it delivers on the exceptional service which it is known for.
Mazi Okonkwo thanked Governor Caleb Mutfwang for his vision and strategic direction in making this a reality and also commended the Commissioner for his efforts. “United Nigeria Airlines will deliver on what it is known for which is excellent customer service. We guarantee that this partnership will be a win-win everyone,” Okonkwo said.
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Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers.
She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay.
She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos.
As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender.
She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies.
Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the
prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the ‘Aviation Writer of the Year’ Category.
She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category.
She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations.
Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.
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