West Africa’s largest carrier, Air Peace, has strengthened its international aviation training programme through a strategic partnership engagement with leading global aviation training organisation, Dutch Aviation Trainers, aimed at boosting crew efficiency and operational standards.

The high-level meeting, held at the airline’s corporate headquarters in Lagos on May 21, brought together executives of both organisations to advance pilot training collaboration, particularly for Air Peace’s Boeing 737 NG fleet.

The engagement is expected to further deepen Air Peace’s investment in world-class pilot development and strengthen its operational capacity across domestic, regional and international routes.

Dutch Aviation Trainers currently handles training for Air Peace pilots operating the Embraer E1 and E2 aircraft, a partnership both organisations described as critical to improving technical expertise and operational efficiency.

DAT is globally recognised for specialised aviation training on Boeing and Embraer aircraft, offering type-rating programmes and advanced operational courses aligned with international aviation standards.

The organisation has also trained pilots for global airlines, including KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and AMAS Airlines Uruguay.

Speaking during the engagement, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Dr. Allen Onyema, reaffirmed the airline’s commitment to safety, human capital development and continuous professional training.

He said the airline would continue investing in global best practices to sustain world-class operations as its fleet and route network continue to expand.

Representing Dutch Aviation Trainers at the meeting were the organisation’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Captain Paul Ten Hof, alongside Herman, who both engaged Air Peace executives on future training opportunities and long-term capacity development initiatives.

The latest collaboration underscores Air Peace’s broader strategy of building a highly skilled workforce capable of sustaining safe, reliable and efficient flight operations across all markets served by the airline.

The Federal Government has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to aviation liberalisation and stronger regional air connectivity as part of efforts to drive economic growth and integration across Africa.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said Nigeria was fully supporting reforms aimed at transforming Africa into a more connected and competitive aviation market.

Speaking at the Annual Lecture Series of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Abuja, the minister said Africa must urgently move from policy declarations to practical implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market and the Yamoussoukro Decision.

Represented by the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, Keyamo described aviation as a strategic tool for economic transformation, trade expansion and regional cooperation.

He warned that Africa would continue to lose billions of dollars in economic opportunities if the continent remained fragmented and poorly connected.

According to him, enhanced connectivity would increase flight frequencies, reduce airfares, strengthen tourism and improve trade volumes among African nations.

The minister identified legal certainty, commercial enablement and institutional trust as the three pillars necessary for building a sustainable continental aviation market.

He disclosed that Nigeria had implemented reforms targeted at improving investor confidence, including legal frameworks designed to strengthen compliance with international aviation agreements and improve judicial efficiency.

Keyamo said the reforms would support safer operations, fleet modernisation and easier access to aircraft financing for operators.

He also revealed that Nigeria’s partnership with Boeing was expected to deepen technical expertise, improve training opportunities and strengthen the country’s aerospace capabilities.

The minister stressed that liberalisation must also protect local interests through strong regulatory oversight, fair competition and deliberate local-content development.

He called on African governments to invest more aggressively in aviation training institutions, regulatory agencies, greener airport infrastructure and technical education.

Keyamo maintained that the future of African economic integration depended heavily on the continent’s ability to build efficient, safe and sustainable air transport systems.

He added that Nigeria would continue working with regional and international partners to ensure that African skies become more open, accessible and economically beneficial to millions of people across the continent.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has assured passengers and stakeholders of enhanced Ebola preparedness measures across the nation’s international airports following recent Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) concerns in parts of Central Africa.

FAAN said it had strengthened surveillance, passenger monitoring, and emergency response systems in collaboration with Port Health Services, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), and other relevant agencies.

In a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr. Henry Agbebire, the authority disclosed that passengers arriving from high-risk regions are currently undergoing intensified health screening procedures at airports nationwide.

According to the statement, passengers are being screened for symptoms associated with Ebola, while any suspected case would be immediately isolated and subjected to secondary health checks in line with national and international health protocols.

FAAN stated that additional preventive measures had also been activated to strengthen the country’s preparedness against any possible outbreak.

The authority noted that coordination among aviation, health, and emergency response stakeholders had been reinforced to ensure swift and effective action whenever necessary.

It further disclosed that airport personnel had undergone increased sensitisation programmes, while emergency response procedures had been strengthened across airport facilities to improve readiness and operational safety.

“While there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola in Nigeria, FAAN remains vigilant and fully committed to safeguarding public health and maintaining safe airport operations,” the statement said.

The agency urged passengers to remain calm, cooperate with health officials during screening procedures, and promptly report any symptoms or health concerns to relevant authorities.

FAAN reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining safe, secure, and healthy airport environments while supporting national public health protection measures.

The authority added that continuous monitoring and collaboration with health agencies would remain in place to ensure Nigeria’s airports sustain global health and safety standards.