By Chinelo Obogo
In a significant development for air travel in Nigeria, ValueJet has announced plans to commence direct flight services between Lagos and Jos, Plateau State, starting April 2, 2025.
The airline revealed that it will operate flights three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, with the possibility of expanding to daily operations in the future, making it the second airline after Arik Air to commence operations.
This move marks ValueJet’s return to the Jos route, having previously launched inaugural flights to the city in October 2022 and commenced regular services from Abuja to Jos in February 2023. The decision to reintroduce flights to Jos comes after a period of limited air connectivity to the state, which had left passengers with no choice but to undertake risky road journeys to Abuja and other destinations.
To ensure the sustainability of flight operations on this route, the Plateau State Government entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ValueJet. The agreement, signed at the airline’s headquarters in Lagos, was formalized by Omololu Majekodunmi, Managing Director of ValueJet, and Jatau Gyang, the State Commissioner of Transportation, who represented Governor Caleb Mutfwang.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Gyang described the initiative as a critical step toward the economic development of Plateau State. He emphasized that the partnership aligns with Governor Mutfwang’s administration’s goal of opening up the state’s economy and improving connectivity for residents and businesses.
Majekodunmi highlighted the importance of the air pact, noting that it was driven by the need to provide a safer and more efficient alternative to road travel, which has been plagued by insecurity. He revealed that Governor Mutfwang and his commissioners have had to make over 25 road trips from Jos to Abuja since the governor’s inauguration, a journey that takes about five hours by road but only 35 minutes by air.
“The essence of this agreement is to guarantee and legally formalise air transport services between Lagos and Jos, addressing the challenges of insecurity on the roads and providing a reliable option for travelers,” Majekodunmi stated.