The Federal Government has lifted the ban it placed on Emirates Airlines which barred the airline from operating in Nigeria, following the resumption of international flights in the country.
The lifting of the ban on the airline was disclosed by the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, via his Twitter handle on Wednesday. According to Sirika UAE has agreed to issue visa to Nigerians.
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The Minister wrote, “UAE has written to state that they agree to issue visas to Nigerians, consequently decision has been reached to allow Emirates to fly into Nigeria.
“Commencement of the Visa issuance is condition precedent. Please bear with this unusual situation. Many thanks.”
UAE has written to state that they agree to issue visas to Nigerians, consequently decision has been reached to allow Emirates to fly into Nigeria. Commencement of the Visa issuance is condition precedent. Please bear with this unusual situation. Many thanks 🙏🏽🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🙏🏽
— Hadi Abubakar Sirika (@hadisirika) September 30, 2020
The minister had on September 18 announced the ban of Emirates flights to Nigeria which took effect from on Monday 21 September 2020
FG had in August said it will implement the principle of reciprocity in granting permission to airlines to resume operations following the resumption of international flights in the country.
Airlines approval
Before the resumption of international flights in the country, the Federal Government had announced that Air France, KLM, Etihad, RwandAir, Air Namibia, Royal Air Maroc, Lufthansa, TAAG Angola Airlines Cabo Verde and South African airlines were not granted approval to commence flight operations,
Airlines granted operation approval to resume operations in the country following the resumption of international flights include Middle East Airline, British Airways, Delta, Qatar, Ethiopian Airlines, Emirates Airlines, Air Peace, Virgin Atlantic, Asky Airlines, Africa World Airways, Air Cote D’ Ivoire, Kenya Airways, EgyptAir, Turkish Airlines.
Airport permission
Airlines permitted to use Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos include EgyptAir, Virgin Atlantic, Turkish Airlines, Africa World Airways, Kenya Airways, and Middle East Airlines.
Airlines permitted to use Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja include British Airways, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Africa World Airways, and Middle East Airlines
Written by;
Ifunanya Ikueze