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BREAKING: FG LIFTS BAN ON EMIRATES AIRLINES

The Federal Government has lifted the ban restraining Emirates Airlines from operating in Nigeria.


The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, disclosed this via his Twitter handle on Wednesday, September 30.


Sirika noted that the United Arab Emirates has also reversed visa restriction on 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,” the Minister tweeted.


This comes after the UAE Government was accused of not renewing visas of Nigerians in the country and also rumours of a visa ban for Nigerians applying for visas. 


Subsequently, the UAE embassy in Nigeria denied there is a visa ban on Nigerians entering the country. 


It claimed that its decision was not targeted at Nigerians only but all nationalities. 


The Middle East country said that the decision was part of the measures put in place by the Government to curb the spread of Coronavirus.


Read Also: INT'L FLIGHT RESUMPTION: FG BANS OPERATION OF AIR FRANCE, KLM, LUFTHANSA, OTHERS


The Minister of Aviation had on September 18 announced the ban of Emirates flights to Nigeria.


The Federal Government said the decision was hinged on facts that some countries had placed a ban on flights from Nigeria.


Before the resumption of international flights in the country, the Federal Government had disapproved the operation of some foreign airlines in Nigeria, including Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, and Etihad Airways.


Others were Rwanda Air, TAAG Angolan, Air Namibia and Royal Air Maroc, as foreign airlines that are not approved to operate flights into Nigeria.


Read Also: FG RECIPROCATES, BANS FLIGHTS FROM EUROPEAN UNION


Sirika however said EgyptAir, Virgin Atlantic, Turkish Airlines, AWA, Kenya Airways and Middle East Airlines are permitted to operate into the Lagos airport, while British Airways, Emirates, Ethiopian, AWA, and Middle East Airlines are allowed to operate into the Abuja airport.


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