Gabonese Ambassador to Nigeria, Corentine Hervo-Akendengue, has lauded the decision of Arik Air to operate to the Central African nation.
He spoke at the inaugural flight of Libreville from Lagos en-route Port Harcourt at the weekend.
According to the envoy, direct flight from Nigeria to Libreville would boost trade between the two countries.
Hervo-Akendengue said both countries have something in common, adding that many Nigerians live in Gabon.
Gabon is an oil producing nation, and oil and gas companies in Nigeria have longed for direct connection between Nigeria and Gabon.
He said by introducing a direct flight between the two countries, Arik Air had solved the problem being faced by corporate organizations and Nigerians who live in Gabon.
Many Nigerians used to spend two days or more to connect either of the countries, but direct flight takes about one and a half hours.
Arik Air’s Chief Commercial Officer, Suraj Sundaram said the two countries would increase trade ties.
“A lot of Nigerians from the South East travel to Libreville on regular basis and we also have corporations that are dominant in Nigeria which transact business in Gabon because the two countries are oil producing, so there is a lot of traffic between the two points. It is in the interest of the two countries that there should be direct flight services,” Sundaram said.
