2 November 2008
Crowds estimated at between 20,000 and 30,000 people were the first Nigerians to see an aircraft in real life in Kano, on a Sunday, November 1, 1925, according to the account of the captain of the first flight to Nigeria, Squadron Leader Arthur Conningham.
The flight from Cairo, Egypt, in three Royal Air Force De Havilland D H 9a aircraft, took six days to arrive Kano at 1645 hours (4.45pm) after it left Cairo, Egypt on Tuesday, October 27 at 0500hours. According to the report by Squadron Leader Conningham, which is contained in a soon to be published book,
The Captains by Deba Uwadiae, the mission team to Nigeria began thus: "On Tuesday, October 27, the machines left the ground at 0500 hours G.M.T in the presence of a gathering which included the general officer commanding, GOC, the British troops in Egypt, Lieutenant General Sir Richard Haking, and the air officer commanding the Royal Air Force, Middle Eat, Air Vice-Marshal Sir Oliver Swann."
On Sunday, November 1, 1925 the team arrived Kano and Conningham reported the event as: "Kano was an amazing sight, as the whole aerodrome was completely surrounded by troops holding back a crowd varying from six to 20 deep.
On our approach the people began to stream out from the towns as well. We landed at 1645 hours L.T and were received by the resident, representatives of the government from Lagos, the commandant and the chief of staff from Kaduna, and the whole British community of Kano," Conningham reported.
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