The Presidency announces a pending agreement between Nigerian cabinet officials and Emirati counterparts that they will soon finalize the terms of Monday’s visa ban lift.
President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, revealed this information to reporters at the State House.
This was after a meeting between Tinubu and the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Abu Dhabi, an agreement was reached leading to the prompt lifting of the visa ban imposed on Nigerian travelers on Monday.
Consequently, “both Etihad and Emirates Airlines are to immediately resume flight schedules into and out of Nigeria, without any further delay,” a statement signed by Ngelale read on Monday.
Since October 2022, the UAE has prohibited citizens from approximately 20 African nations, including Nigeria, from entering its territory.
Nevertheless, during an exclusive conversation with a journalist, Susan Akporiaye, the President of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agents, clarified that Emirates Airlines and Etihad Airlines are set to recommence flights to Nigeria following the Federal Government’s approval.
Akporiaye outlined that the commencement of flights entails a multi-step process and cannot be initiated instantly.
She said, “There are processes involved. The flights also cannot start immediately as there are processes involved They will have to apply for flight schedule and time from the NCAA, and the NCAA will look at it against what they have operating with other airlines and revert to Emirates and Etihad Airlines what has been approved then it will be loaded on the system & a flight comment date will be announced by the airline.”
“Then the system will be opened for bookings & ticket issuance.”