Travel

Most often, media reports on immigrant communities in Europe focus on problems of residency status, accommodation, integration, poverty and crime. And the “newness” of it all. Little Lagos, however, is an established community with an impressive track record of achievement among its inhabitants. Nigerian school children in London perform well in academic exams and the British Nigerians boast a wide selection of business, sport, education and artistic successes, including Shirley Bassey, Sade and Ben Okri.

Nigeria’s biggest airline has launched regular scheduled non-stop flights to London from Lagos. Air Peace’s inaugural flight on 31 March was greeted by Nigerians like an epochal event as the airline offers much lower fares compared to international carriers plying the same route. The London trip comes a month after the Nigerian flag carrier said it would commence direct flight …

Bulgaria and Romania have become Schengen members. From 31 March, the Schengen rules will apply in both EU member states including on issuing Schengen visas while controls at the internal air and sea borders will be lifted. Commenting on the epochal event, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said: “I welcome the lifting of internal air …

Travelling should be an opportunity to learn. This is why a new tour operator has developed a unique concept for people interested in travelling to Africa. Farafina Travels, an offshoot of the think tank Farafina Institute, would like travellers to really get to know the continent through its peoples, its cultures, its history, its landscape, its animals etc. The concept …

The national airline of Italy, ITA Airways, will launch weekly non-stop flights from Rome to Accra, Ghana, on 6 June. The new development increases travel options to the West African country. “This strategic expansion to include the Rome-Accra route underscores the airline’s commitment to providing enhanced connectivity and fostering international travel within the sub-region,” ITA Airways said. From Germany, the …

Lagos has been ranked as the 19th best city to visit in the world, according to Time Out, a global magazine that publishes travel guides and magazines. Apart from Lagos, South Africa’s Cape Town (ranked second) and Ghana’s Accra (44th) were the only African cities that featured on the list, issued by the London-based publication. Time Out, which tags itself …

A new hotel that promises to redefine the hospitality industry in one of Nigeria’s major cities and the capital of one of its 36 states has opened its doors. The DeSignature Tower Hotel & Suite, unveiled on 14 January, is located in the prestigious Jericho GRA in the heart of Ibadan, capital of Oyo State and one of Africa’s largest …

Ghana has opened a new dedicated facility in Berlin for the delivery of improved consular services to its citizens and non-citizens planning to visit the West African country in Germany. The Premium Application Centre (PAC) for Visas and Passports should help in providing better services to Ghanaians and non-Ghanaians in Germany and aims to enhance the existing consular services offered …

“Beginning January 2024, Kenya will be a visa-free country. It shall no longer be necessary for any person from any corner of the globe to carry the burden of applying for a visa to come to Kenya,” President William Ruto announced Tuesday during the 60th independence anniversary celebration in Nairobi, the capital. The effect of the landmark move means it …

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has unveiled the newly refurbished E-Arrival Wing at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos. This upgraded hall, a collaborative effort between the Nigeria Immigration Service and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company Limited, aims to streamline the arrival process, providing a smoother experience for passengers, especially the elderly …

China has granted visa-free travel to Germans and citizens of five other countries for a year, its foreign ministry announced on Friday. “China has decided to apply unilateral visa-free policy to more countries on a trial basis, which involves extending visa-free treatment to travellers holding ordinary passports from six countries, namely France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia,” Chinese …

All Africans can now travel visa-free to Rwanda. President Paul Kagame announced the new policy on Thursday, making his country to become the latest nation on the continent to waive visas to other African nationals after The Gambia, Benin and Seychelles. Speaking at the 23rd Global Summit of the World Travel and Tourism Council, holding in Kigali, Rwanda, Kagame said …

Ghana and South Africa have entered into an agreement for a visa waiver regime for holders of ordinary passports. This means that citizens of both countries can travel and stay in each other’s territory for up to 90 days without visa in a calendar year. The agreement, which takes effect from 1 November, was announced in a press statement issued …

International airlines operating from the old Terminal 1 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport have been directed to relocate to the new Chinese-built Terminal 2. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) issued the order following the directive of the new Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo. Keyamo, during a visit to the Lagos airport had directed FAAN …

Widely regarded as ‘the Oscars of the aviation industry’, the World Airline Awards have been presented for the 24th time at the Paris Air Show, taking place from June 19 to 25 in the French capital. The annual global ranking of airlines, organised by Skytrax, is eagerly anticipated each year, even though three airlines – Qatar, Singapore and Emirates, have …

The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has announced the launch of the first set of electric buses for the state’s mass transit scheme. He announced the development on his Instagram page on Sunday, as he shared pictures of the buses. Sanwo-Olu wrote: “I am excited to announce the first set of electric buses in the Lagos Mass Transit Master …

A dead man was discovered in the wheel well of a KLM flight KL588 that arrived at Schiphol airport, Amsterdam, from Lagos, Nigeria, on Monday (17 April). The man is assumed to have climbed into the aircraft at the Lagos international airport. The incident which is not new has raised serious security concerns about how and when the man was …

Geneva, 3 April 2023 – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is launching “Focus Africa” to strengthen aviation’s contribution to Africa’s economic and social development and improve connectivity, safety and reliability for passengers and shippers. This initiative will align private and public stakeholders to deliver measurable progress in six areas. “Africa accounts for 18% of the global population, but just 2.1% …

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the trade association of world airlines, has warned the Nigerian government that difficulties encountered by foreign airlines in repatriating their revenue from the country could lead to a reduction of flights to Nigeria. The total amount of foreign airlines’ trapped funds in Nigeria has risen to $802m, according to the latest figure announced by …

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has announced that the proposed national carrier, Nigeria Air is to commence full operations before the end of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. Mr Sirika made the revelation at an aviation stakeholder’s forum in Abuja on Thursday. Responding to a question on when exactly Nigeria Air will commence operations, the minister said, “Before …