Ahead of the resumption of flights to Nigeria by Emirates on October 1, the federal government has finalised agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities to guarantee reciprocal rights for Nigerian airlines willing to start flying to any of the UAE cities, especially Dubai.
Though Nigeria has an existing bilateral air service agreement (BASA) with the UAE, the agreement on reciprocal rights would enable Nigerian carriers to reciprocate flights to the Middle East country without much hassle.
Daily Trust reports that prior to the suspension of visa issuance to Nigerians by the UAE, Air Peace was operating direct flight to Dubai while other airlines are also planning to begin flights to the country.
But before Emirates suspended Nigerian flights, there was a strained diplomatic relation between Nigeria and the UAE, resulting to the Nigerian government reducing Emirates’ 21 frequencies to one.
The decision was in response to the refusal of the UAE aviation authorities to grant Air Peace the right to fly to Dubai International Airport, UAE’s tier one airport.
However, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo SAN led a high-level Nigerian delegation to the UAE to finalize negotiations before the commencement of Emirates’ flight to avoid issues of the past.
The Minister, accompanied by his technical team, engaged in constructive discussions with UAE aviation authorities, with the aim of ensuring smooth reintroduction of Emirates Airlines into the Nigerian airspace next week Tuesday.
The reviewed BASA, which was a focal point of the talks, is designed to enhance collaboration between the two countries and establish guidelines for their evolving relationship in the aviation sector, according to a statement from the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood.
He said, “Crucially, the negotiations also yielded a significant agreement on reciprocal rights, ensuring that Nigerian airlines will soon have the opportunity to commence direct flight operations to the UAE.
“This marks a historic development for Nigeria’s aviation industry, expanding international connectivity and offering more options to travelers between the two nations.”
The statement quoted the Minister as saying, “Today’s discussions reaffirm our commitment to fostering a balanced and forward-looking partnership with the UAE. We are pleased to have secured reciprocal operational rights for Nigerian airlines, which will not only deepen our bilateral ties but also strengthen the global competitiveness of Nigeria’s aviation industry. As Emirates returns to Nigeria, we look forward to a thriving and mutually beneficial air service relationship.”
The statement added that the resumed flight operations by Emirates and the new BASA will play a pivotal role in promoting tourism, business, and cultural exchanges between Nigeria and the UAE, as well as fostering economic growth.
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