The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is yet to officially notify Nigeria on the lifting of flight ban imposed on the country and 11 other African countries.
This was disclosed by the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Musa Nuhu, in press briefing.
He said since the issue is a country-to-country, the lifting of the restriction would have to pass through diplomatic channels.
On Thursday, UAE aviation authorities tweeted that flights can resume between Nigeria and UAE from Saturday.
After the announcement, the Dubai based airline, Emirates, revealed that it would resume flights to five countries immediately from Saturday without mentioning Nigeria.
The NCAA boss has said the only communication they got was from the Emirates Airlines Country Manager who communicated the decision to the agency on Thursday.
Nuhu said, “The Country Manager of Emirates Airlines came to my office yesterday (Thursday) and he submitted a letter of release by the Dubai Airport lifting the ban on Nigeria and 11 other African countries. Of course, we still have some protocols that have to be complied with. I think it is acceptable.
“But, what I told him is that the issue of flight operations between Nigeria and UAE is based on BASA. Nigeria as a government, we don’t deal with an airline, we deal with the authorities of UAE. So, what I told him is that the Civil Aviation Authority of UAE should write to us officially through the diplomatic channels. When we have that it means the Nigerian Government is in official communication from UAE. As soon as that letter comes in, I am sure it is going to come may be today (Friday) or tomorrow (Saturday), we will act on it.
“Officially, we are not aware because I need the UAE CAA to officially inform me through government to government channel. So, when we get that it becomes official,” he said.
