In December 2020, the chartered Boeing 777-300ER by Air Peace landed in Montego Bay, Jamaica, at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, along with 132 mixed members from Lagos, Nigeria. It was a quiet yet powerful milestone. This is the first direct charter flight ever between Nigeria and the Caribbean.
This journey called the journey of hope, as it proved that Africa and the Caribbean were combined not only by history but also by future possibilities. Just 17 years after the African Union officially recognized the diaspora as Africa's sixth region, the tangible bridge was born.
The story made global headlines, but few people knew what really happened to the flight. It was not a scheduled route or a state visit. It was also a strategic and privately-led charter through destination diplomacy, cross-border collaboration and vision curated by the NTT Global Destination Tourism Department, known as Nigerian Travel.
Long before “Africa-Caribbean Air Access” became a trending phrase, we had already quietly laid the foundation, working with ministries, embassies and local agencies to create statements of intent as well as flights.
Over the next few years, others stepped into the space, including one-off charter flights to islands such as Antigua & Valbuda and St. Kitts & Nevis. We welcome this growing interest as each movement into the Caribbean helps to deepen your vision and connection.
But while others are running flights, the deeper, long-term vision that began in 2020 remains a compass rooted in continuity and systems thinking. For five years, one important element was missing. It is an institutional investment to ensure sustainability.
A new chapter in institutional strength
That changed on July 8, 2025, when Afreximbank signed a groundbreaking contract with the Jamaican government. This is a milestone that quickly followed the first Caribbean event, co-located by NTT Global Destinations and Jamaica National Bank.
Our symposium brings together the Caribbean heads of governments, policymakers, creatives, private sector leaders and development partners in both regions, “From shared roots to shared futures: unity in Africa and the Caribbean.” It was more than a ritual. It demonstrated a transition from a one-off effort to systematic collaboration.
With Afreximbank now officially invested in the Caribbean, the path to sustainability is no longer theoretical. It's real.
Through a growing network of Caribbean partners and regional institutions, NTT Global destinations are in the confirmation phase to launch weekly direct flights between Nigeria and Jamaica in the first quarter of 2026.
“This started as an opportunity for us,” says Elizabeth Agboola, founder and CEO of NTT Global Destinations. “But that is now a responsibility to know that it is possible between Africa and the Caribbean, for the people, the diaspora, and for the future we know.”
But this is more than just a tourist route.
The hallway works like this:
Diaspora engagement platform technical cooperation bridge for public-private collaboration Cargo filling routes for Caribbean and North American markets Trade and SMEs Connectors between African and Caribbean entrepreneurs is a gateway for creative and cultural exchange.
This is no longer a “one-hit wonder.” It is the foundation of an institutional air corridor built on a vision, backed by partnerships, and ready for scale.
Once momentum is built across the continent and the entire diaspora, it actively forms the next step. NTT Global Destinations is currently supporting Jamaica's Chairman Caricom, helping to integrate African partnerships over the next six months.
Additionally, it supports the organization of the Au-Caricom Summit Ethiopia in September to strengthen cultural and economic ties on the African continent. And through strategic relationships, including the African Development Bank, we are working on designing side events focused on the Caribbean at future events, launching access to the continent's most powerful private sector platform for CARICOM businesses and investors. These engagements, although still mature, reinforce one truth. NTT Global destinations are more than just connecting planes. Connecting policies, platforms, and people.
The whole picture
We recognize the rise of new players in this field and celebrate our collective efforts to strengthen African and Caribbean bonds. However, history must be accurately recorded. The first direct flight from Nigeria to the Caribbean was not just a moment. That was a mission. NTT Global's destination led its mission. And five years later, we're still building what comes here. From that runway in 2020 to the landmark event in 2025, and now heading towards the weekly operation in 2026, our journey continues with confidence. This is because it is larger than aviation. It is about the power of heritage, identity, and the shared futures.
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