The Federal Government has called for the restoration of direct flight operations from Nigeria to Italy.
FG recently advocated for the revival of its bilateral air services agreement with Italy to strengthen trade and economic ties between the two countries.
The Director of Economic Trade and Investment at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Anderson Madubuike recently revealed this at the Nigeria-Italy Investment Summit 2025 (NIIS 2025) in Abuja.
At the summit themed “Building Bridges: Unlocking Opportunities,” Madubuike spoke about the problems passengers have been facing since the suspension of Alitalia’s operations in the country, which immediately disrupted direct travel between Nigeria and Italy.
He revealed that Nigeria and Italy share long-term relationships in sectors like investment, agriculture, technological development and trade; therefore, a renewed BASA agreement is needed to contribute to the economic transformation in both countries.
“Since Alitalia ceased operations, it has become difficult for passengers to travel directly between our countries.
Italy is a significant trading partner for Nigeria. Both countries aim to diversify their economies and attract foreign direct investment.
I believe this summit will help foster impactful partnerships,” he said.
Managing Director of Giant Gee Nigeria Limited, Amb. Augustine Chigbolu also reiterated that reinstating the Italian airline service will go a long way towards easing travel challenges between both nations.
He stated that before Alitalia’s suspension, the flight duration between Nigeria and Italy was 5 hours. However, it currently takes between 16 to 18 hours due to layovers.
He further noted that the summit is a key platform to promote sustainable growth and trigger fruitful partnerships between the two nations.
