By Our Correspondent
SOKOTO — Sokoto State has joined the growing list of Nigerian states with state-backed airlines following the delivery of an Embraer E190 aircraft to Caliphate Air in Abuja.
The arrival of the aircraft marks a major milestone in the development of Caliphate Air, which is being positioned to strengthen air transportation between Sokoto, the wider Northwest and other parts of the country.
Caliphate Air is building its operations around Abuja as its principal hub, with plans to connect several major Nigerian cities.
The proposed network includes Sokoto, Kano, Gusau, Birnin Kebbi, Maiduguri, Yola, Lagos and Port Harcourt.
The airline’s planned route network is expected to improve connectivity between major commercial, administrative and cultural centres, particularly by providing more direct links between cities in the Northwest and other parts of Nigeria.
For Sokoto State, the establishment of an airline is expected to have significance beyond the aviation sector.
Improved air connectivity could make the state more accessible to investors, business travellers, tourists, government officials and development partners.
The development could also support economic activities across the region by facilitating faster movement of people and improving access to markets and business opportunities.
The newly delivered E190 is expected to provide Caliphate Air with greater passenger-carrying capacity compared with its ERJ-145 aircraft.
According to information provided by the airline, the E190 can accommodate between 96 and 114 passengers, depending on its configuration.
With the addition of the E190 to its fleet and Abuja established as its operational hub, Caliphate Air is positioning itself for an expanded role in Nigeria’s domestic aviation market.
The development places Sokoto among Nigerian states pursuing direct participation in commercial aviation and signals the state’s ambition to strengthen transportation links, facilitate economic activity and improve regional connectivity through air travel
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