There has been no update from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) regarding the visa ban that was previously placed on Nigerian travelers. Emirates Airlines has announced that it will recommence flights to Nigeria starting from October 1, 2024, offering a daily service between Lagos and Dubai.
According to a statement released on Thursday, the airline, headquartered in the UAE, will be utilizing a Boeing 777-300ER for its flight operations.
Adnan Kazim, the Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer of Emirates expressed his enthusiasm about resuming services to Nigeria. He mentioned that the Lagos-Dubai route has always been popular among Nigerian passengers, and they aim to reconnect both leisure and business travelers to Dubai and onwards to their vast network of over 140 destinations.
Emirates Airlines had previously halted its Dubai-Lagos flights in 2022 due to challenges faced in repatriating funds from Nigeria amidst diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
Relations between Nigeria and the UAE have experienced setbacks over the years, with issues stemming from the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA). Visa restrictions were later imposed following continued diplomatic strains between the two nations, despite the UAE being a prominent choice for Nigerian migrants and tourists.
In efforts to mend diplomatic ties, President Bola Tinubu held discussions with UAE President, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Abu Dhabi in September 2023.
Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, recently disclosed that Emirates Airlines has confirmed a specific date for resuming flight operations to Nigerian airports.
Nevertheless, the UAE has not made any official announcement concerning the recent visa ban imposed on Nigerian travelers.
