- Emirates is poised to restart flights to Nigeria in June, following a two-year hiatus due to financial issues
- Minister Festus Keyamo confirmed Emirates’ readiness to resume operations, highlighting diplomatic efforts to resolve outstanding issues
The Federal Government has hinted that UAE carrier Emirates is set to resume its flights to Nigeria in June this year, nearly two years after suspending operations due to issues such as trapped funds.
Emirates had halted flights to Nigeria in September 2022, citing challenges in repatriating funds. Despite efforts to engage authorities for resolution, no progress was made, leading to the suspension of flights.
However, Keyamo, while appearing on Arise Morning Show on Monday, said, “Emirates flight resumption is almost happening. I just received a letter from Emirates. The letter is on my phone now. They have gone through all the gamut and are ready to return. They will announce the date because to restart a route, they must get an aircraft.
“I am announcing to Nigerians for the first time that I just received a letter from Emirates. The letter is with me. I have a hard copy thanking you for all the efforts we made. Mr. President was the showman here. He was the one who pushed for it. He made my job easy because he went there and had a diplomatic shuttle to resolve all the issues. That was why I said the last announcement was hasty and not fake news. They will announce the date for their next flight. We have received a letter confirming that all the issues have been resolved and are prepared to start coming back. It may be before June.”
Keyamo highlighted the significance of securing aircraft for the route before announcing the resumption date. He emphasized the efforts to address the challenges, noting that the upcoming resumption resulted from diplomatic efforts.
While the resumption of flights signals progress, unresolved issues such as visa and work permit bans remain. Discussions between Nigeria and the UAE are ongoing to resolve these issues, with further updates expected via official channels.
The potential resumption of Emirates flights brings hope for Nigerians, especially those stranded due to the previous suspension. With diplomatic efforts underway, stakeholders anticipate a positive outcome to facilitate seamless travel between countries.