ValueJet deepens competition with expansion of regional network to Accra, Cotonou, Malabo

ValueJet, a growing private Nigerian carrier, has concluded plans to launch a several routes from its hub in Lagos to Cotonou, Benin Republic, Accra, Ghana, and Malabo in Equatorial Guinea, less than three years after commencing scheduled flight operations.

The airline kick-started its foray into regional operations with the launch of direct flights to Banjul, The Gambia, from Lagos on May 15, 2025, underlying its ambitious regional route expansion plans.

The carrier’s foray into the Banjul route has opened up and liberalised the market, as the airline is doing remarkably well on the route.

Since launching its direct Lagos–Banjul route on May 15, 2025, ValueJet has opened up West Africa’s hidden gem to everyday adventurers, wanderers, and business-savvy travellers alike.

Omololu Dapo Majekodunmi, the Managing Director of ValueJet, disclosed that the new routes were further confirmation of the airline’s unyielding drive to connect the whole of West Africa and facilitate economic prosperity on the continent.

He said, “Our goal is to make air connectivity on the West Coast and indeed Africa seamless, comfortable, affordable and a refreshing experience. We are ready to take up the challenge and kick off the second phase of our regional operations with the commencement of our Cotonou, Accra and Malabo services very soon”.

“We are expanding our West African presence to strategically connect key cities in the sub-region, ease connectivity for Africans and strengthen commercial ties between countries.”

“ValueJet is committed to easing the air transportation burden of Africans, and this will continue to drive our route expansion as well as fleet modernisation. We also recently received CRJ 1000 aircraft to further strengthen our domestic and regional operations”, he stated.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.