President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime has approved scheduled passenger flights between Nigeria, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) should resume.

According to a statement by Musa Nuhu, DG of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), disclosed that aviation minister Hadi Sirika approved the reinstatement of Emirates Airlines winter schedule with immediate effect.

“This move is as a result of the review and acceptance of the ‘Safety Decision 2021-02 Issue 24’ as released by the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). All parties have been informed accordingly,” said the statement. “Consequently, Air peace and Emirates Airlines are liberty to resume scheduled passenger flights between Nigeria and UAE.”

It added, “This is under the terms and conditions of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between the two countries. All parties must ensure strict compliance with the COVID-19 travel protocols of both countries.”

On December 14, 2021, Emirates announced the suspension of flight operations between Nigeria and Dubai amid a slot allocation row between Nigeria’s aviation ministry and the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), just a week after the country’s largest airline announced its flight resumption to Abuja and Lagos.

(NAN)