Abuja, Nigeria 20-22 November 2017:  Minister of State in charge of Transport, Eng. Jean De Dieu Uwihanganye attended the 3rd Annual International Civil Aviation Organization World Aviation Forum 2017 held in Abuja, Nigeria under the theme “Financing the Development of Aviation Infrastructure.”

Alongside the forum, Minister of State has concluded on behalf of the Government of Rwanda the negotiation and signing of the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASAs) with Cape Verde.

“This is expected to open more potential market opportunities for RwandAir and Rwanda’s private sector, providing more economic momentum for the local and other African economies,” said Minister Uwihanganye.

At the same event he also negotiated the BASA with the Republic of Nigeria which is expected to be signed in Kigali in a few weeks. When it is signed, said Minister Uwihanganye “it will facilitate RwandAir’s flights to Abuja as its second destination in Nigeria after Lagos”.

Abuja route is expected to be opened in January 2018 subject to approval from Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority. The authority is expected to inspect and verify RwandAir’s compliance to ensure operations start.

Rwanda has already signed 60 bilateral air service agreements with several countries as part of Government efforts to increase air connectivity and deepen trade in Africa and beyond “to ensure that Rwanda opens to the world and vice versa”.

Of these, 24 bilateral agreements are with African states and the rest are with countries outside the continent.

Meanwhile, Dr. Bernard Aliu Olumuyiwa, the ICAO Council President has commended Rwanda for good performance and effective implementation and compliance with aviation standards and recommended practices. According to the 2017 ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP), Rwanda scored 71.93 per cent. This was a huge improvement compared to previous audits where Rwanda scored 21.13 per cent in 2007 and 44.29 per cent in 2012. The audit is done on eight critical areas that ensure the safe and secure operations of the aviation industry.

The ICAO President accepted to personally come to Rwanda and hand over the ICAO Certificate to President Paul Kagame, according to Ministry of Infrastructure officials. He was speaking during the third ICAO World Aviation Forum 2017.

The Government of Rwanda has earmarked aviation as an enabler of economic growth and thus invested in the upgrading of the Kigali International Airport and up-country airports of Kamembe and Gisenyi, as well as the ongoing construction of the Bugesera International Airport.