NIGERIA – Gulf carriers Etihad Airways and Emirates Airlines have finally been approved to operate international flights into Nigeria after weeks of being locked out of country’s airspace.

The two gulf carriers which are flag carriers of the United Arab Emirates were denied entry into Nigeria after their home country made a decision to deny Nigerian nationals Visas.

The decision by the United Arab Emirates to begin conditional issuance of Visas to Nigerians however prompted the Nigerian Civil Aviation to rescind its earlier decision of blacklisting the two carriers from touching down in its airports.

Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika while making public the decision to allow the gulf airlines into the countries said, “UAE has commenced issuance of visas today. Consequent upon that, Emirates Airlines will begin operations in the country starting with daily flights into Abuja and Lagos”.

“Their sister company from the same country, Etihad are working on their schedule and once they do that, they will let us know,” the minister of Aviation added.

Mr. Sirika further noted that Air Peace which is the only Nigerian airline flying to UAE from Nigeria was also working on the process to resume flights to the oil-rich gulf nation.

Sirika during the announcement also revealed that 27 passengers have failed to comply with the laid down rules for the operations of international flights and will be sanctioned forthwith.

“Now the protocol and procedure are that the airlines that brought in these passengers will be dealt with according to the law. For these violations, NCAA will be dealing with them accordingly,” Mr. Sirika said.

The Minister reiterated that foreign carriers are expected to come in the country with no more than 200 passengers, however, they can carry as many passengers as possible on the return trip.

Following the approval of Emirates and Etihad to fly into Nigeria, the list of airlines that are yet to be approved to fly into Nigeria has been shorted and now compises of Air Namibia, Royal Air Maroc, Lufthansa, TAAG Angola Airlines.

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