Travel
FG Lifts Ban On Emirates Airlines As UAE Reverses Visa Restriction On Nigerians
The federal government of Nigeria has lifted the ban on Emirates Airlines from operating in Nigeria, this is twelve days after the ban.
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika announced on Wednesday, September 30, 2020, on his twitter handle.
According to him, the ban was lifted after the government of the United Arab Emirates agreed to resume issuing visa to Nigerians.
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 Sirika (@hadisirika) September 30, 2020
He tweeted, “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.”
On Friday, September 18, the federal government banned Emirates flights from Lagos and Abuja airports after the government of the UAE allegedly refused to grant fresh visa applications submitted by Nigerians.
Before the resumption of international flights in Nigeria, the federal government had vowed to enforce the principle of reciprocity in granting permission to airlines to resume operations.
Sirika said it was necessary for Nigeria to implement the principle of reciprocity to all countries that had banned flights from Nigeria.