ValueJet and the government of Plateau State have signed a pact to commence direct flight services between Lagos and Jos, the capital of Plateau State, on April 2, 2025.

The carrier planned to operate direct flights from Lagos three times a week, scheduled for Monday, Wednesday and Friday for a start, as it could expand it to daily operation, even as it promised to equally spread its routes to other key destinations across the country.

The airline made this known through a statement recently, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent.

According to the statement, after being starved of flight services to Jos by many airlines, the Plateau State Government felt there was a need to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the carrier to ensure it sustains its operations on the route and to save passengers the huge risk of travelling by road from Plateau State to Abuja and beyond.

Speaking at the signing of the MoU, which took place at the airline’s head office in Lagos, its managing director, Omololu Majekodunmi, said the essence of the air pact was to tie, guarantee, and actually put in place a legal air transport business between both parties, which was further necessitated by insecurity on the road.

His words, “The governor, since he was sworn in, had driven to Abuja from Jos more than 25 times. This applies to all the commissioners. It is either you take a 35-minute flight, or you take a five-hour trip by road with hoodlums and insecurity on the roads.”

While Majekodunmi signed for the airline, the Plateau State Commissioner of Transportation, Jatau Gyang, who represented Governor Caleb Mutfwang, signed on behalf of the Plateau State government.

The commissioner said the initiative was very critical to the development of the state, adding that the event marked a significant milestone in the quest of Governor Mutfwang’s administration to open up the economy of the state in line with his policy thrust.