Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has finalized negotiations for the resumption of Emirates Airlines’ flight operations to Nigeria. The minister, who led a Nigerian delegation to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), met with the country’s aviation authorities on Friday to solidify the agreement.
The negotiations have also laid the groundwork for a new Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between both nations, aimed at fostering stronger and mutually beneficial aviation ties. Keyamo, in a statement shared on his official X account, confirmed that Emirates Airlines will resume flights to Nigeria on **Tuesday, October 1, 2024**.
Keyamo further announced that Nigerian airlines would also be granted reciprocal rights to operate flights to the UAE under the new agreement. This comes after months of diplomatic and technical consultations to restore direct air travel between the two countries.
Emirates Airlines had previously suspended flights to Nigeria in **November 2022** due to difficulties in repatriating $85 million in trapped revenue, causing strained diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the UAE.
