Festus Keyamo Speaks On Possible Date For Resumption Of UAE Flight To Nigeria

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, has revealed that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) airlines could resume flight operations to Nigeria before June.

The Minister made the revelation on a breakfast programme, the Morning Show, on Arise TV while confirming that he received a letter from Emirates Airline affirming that all issues had been resolved.

“Emirates flight resumption is almost happening. I just received a letter from Emirates. The letter is on my phone now. They have gone through all the gamut, and they are ready to come back. They will announce the date, because to restart a route, they have to get an aircraft for that route.

“I am announcing to Nigerians for the first time, that I just received a letter from Emirates. The letter is with me. I have a hard copy thanking you for all the efforts we made.

“They will announce the date for their next flight. We have received a letter confirming that all the issues have been resolved and prepared to start coming back. It may be before June.” Keyamo said.

In October 2022, the UAE banned citizens of about 20 African countries from gaining access to its shores, including Nigeria.

‘Legal issues hindering local airlines from competing globally’

Speaking further, Keyamo stated that the federal government is already working to address legal concerns that have over the years hindered Nigerian airlines from competing globally.

He said the immediate steps taken in conjunction with the Attorney General of the Federation and the Chief Justice of Nigeria is to advise judges to cease granting injunctions to detain aircraft on dry lease in Nigeria.

“I discovered that what guides aircraft leasing around the world is what is called the Cape Town Leasing Convention. It is the convention that regulates aircraft leasing around the world and Nigeria is a signatory to that convention. We have not only signed it but ratified it. There is a group that is responsible for pushing for observance and compliance of that convention. That group is co-chaired by Airbus and Boeing and it is called the Aviation Working Group.

“I called them and asked why they have blacklisted Nigerians and why we are not getting the aircraft by our local airlines. They said they have blacklisted Nigerians because they don’t comply with the Cape Town Convention. They said it is a legal problem.

“They bring in their aircraft on dry lease and our local, some scrupulous businessmen, take their aircraft, refuse to fulfil their obligations under those dry leases and rush to court to get an injunction to stop the removal of those aircraft from Nigeria. It happened previously with an airline that I won’t mention, from 10 years ago and it gave Nigeria a bad image.

“So, they told me that until you amend your laws, your practice directions in court to outlaw the granting of injunctions for the removal of aircraft on dry lease, we will not bring aircraft into your country.

“So, I engaged the Attorney General of the Federation; I’ve spoken with the chief judge of the federal high court, and we are engaging the chief justice of Nigeria. All of them have agreed. I’ve briefed the president and the vice president who is the head of ease of doing business because it affects the ease of doing business.

“All of us have agreed that it is a critical issue and as I speak with you, we are in the process of drafting a practice direction to satisfy the World Aviation Working Group.

“The practice direction says to our judges, ‘don’t grant injunctions to detain aircraft that are on dry lease in Nigeria. It gives us a bad image; it is against the Cape Town Convention.

“There is another provision there that says if you want to go administratively to take your aircraft out, you apply to the NCAA and within five days, the NCAA must grant relief. The other law also says that within 10 days, the court must grant relief also to creditors who want to take their aircraft out. So, we are almost there.” he further explained.

Daily Trust