The Federal Government announced on Thursday that there is no specific timeframe for the resumption of Emirates and Etihad flights that had been suspended due to the diplomatic dispute between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
This means that the suspension of these flights remains in effect, and there is no fixed date for when they will be allowed to resume operations between the two countries, according to the Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo.
Following a meeting between Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his UAE counterpart, Sheik Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Abu Dhabi on Monday, Ajuri Ngelale, the Presidential spokesman, announced that both leaders had reached a historic agreement that led to the immediate lifting of the suspension of Emirate and Etihad airlines flight operation to Nigeria and the visa ban that had been placed on Nigerian travelers by the UAE.
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The announcement sent enthusiasm across Nigeria, especially to travelers who believe that it signifies a positive resolution to the visa-related issue and a restoration of normal travel relations between the two countries.
However, in its statement, the Middle Eastern country said Nigeria and the UAE would work together to reinforce their ties and explore opportunities for further bilateral collaborations.
“His Highness underscored the UAE’s ongoing commitment to fostering ties with countries that share the same aspirations for stability, sustainable growth, and development and prosperity for their people,” a statement issued by the UAE said, without acknowledging that the travel ban on Nigerians has been lifted.
“He further emphasized the particular importance the UAE attaches to its relationship with Nigeria, within the framework of its strategic vision for relations with the African continent,” the statement added.
This statement fueled the conclusion by many Nigerians that the federal government lied about the agreement it reached with the UAE, forcing Ngelale to admit that lifting the travel ban will not be immediate but will likely depend on diplomatic negotiations and the resolution of the issues causing the suspension. This includes the flight suspension.
Keyamo, speaking at the Aviation Africa Summit in Abuja on Thursday, mentioned that the terms of the agreements were in the finalization stage for both Emirates and Etihad to resume flight operations.
“So, we are beginning to work out all the tiny details. I met with Emirates before I left UAE, and we are working out the details. We cannot say the time frame. Kicking off an airline operation again on a route does not mean you will go and grab one empty plane sitting in a place.
“There is no idle plane sitting anywhere, they have to reschedule their flights and restart their routes again. All kinds of permission will be taken from local authorities and of course, I made the point in speaking with them and I made it clear that they will have to give our airlines reciprocal rights under our Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASAs).
“That is the point I insisted on, and they did say that any spot we need, they will give us as much as we give them those spots within Nigeria,” he said.
This suggests that there are ongoing negotiations and discussions to reach mutually acceptable terms and conditions that would allow these airlines to restart their flight services in Nigeria.