The flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) disclosed this in a statement, blaming its decision on the inability to repatriate its earnings in foreign exchange from Nigeria.

This is coming about three weeks after the airlines appealed to the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, to support the repatriation of its revenue said to be $85 million.

Nigeria is facing a forex exchange crisis and this has also affected the nation’s local currency — Naira — to depreciate against the dollar.

In a letter addressed to the minister and signed by Sheik Majid Al Mualla, Emirates airline’s Divisional Senior Vice-President (DSVP), International Affairs, Emirates said the planned reductions in its operations in Nigeria would take effect from August 15, 2022.

It stated that flights would be reduced from 11 per week to seven per week at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

“We have had no choice but to take this action, to mitigate the continued losses Emirates is experiencing as a result of funds being blocked in Nigeria,” the airlines said.

“As of July 2022, Emirates has US$ 85 million of funds awaiting repatriation from Nigeria. This figure has been rising by more than $US 10 million every month, as the ongoing operational costs of our 11 weekly flights to Lagos and 5 to Abuja continue to accumulate.”

The post Emirates Suspends All Flights To Nigeria appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Council Chambers of the State House in Abuja, briefly before the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting commenced on Wednesday.

Professor Mahmood Yakubu will be the INEC Chairman for his second five-year term.

Yakubu while addressing journalists’ said preparations were already ongoing on how to ensure smooth elections in 2023.

He noted that INEC had, in collaboration with the National Assembly, commenced a process of delivering an amended electoral legal framework in record time.

“We have clearly demonstrated in recent elections that elections are getting better and they will continue to get better,” he said.

“The National Assembly is holding a public hearing on the amendment of the electoral legal framework. This is important and this time around, working with the National Assembly, we’ll ensure a speedy passage of the amendment bill and once it is assented to, it will help us enormously in confronting the challenges ahead.

“The preparations for 2023 general elections have proceeded in earnest, we need certainty and therefore the electoral legal framework is fundamental, without which we cannot formulate our regulations and guidelines. Without our regulations and guidelines, we cannot conclude work on the manual for the training of ad-hoc staff for the elections.

“So from here, I am going to proceed to the National Assembly, so work begins in earnest and we have already started.”

The INEC chairman also received his appointment letter from the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr. Maurice Nnamdi Mbaeri, on Wednesday.

Buhari renominated Yakubu for another five-year term on October 27.

He is the first chairman to be reappointed to head the commission.

The post Buhari Swears In Prof. Mahmood As INEC Chairman For Second Five-Year Term appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

We are working with Ministry of Health, CACOVID & The PTF to open Kano, Port Harcourt & possibly Enugu airports before the end of the year. Also Lufthansa, Air France/KLM has been given go ahead to resume. Qatar Airways is approved to start Abuja. Thank you for your patience

— Hadi Sirika (@hadisirika) November 17, 2020

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, made the disclosure in a tweet on Tuesday.

Sirika also added that Qatar Airways has been granted approval to resume flights to Abuja.

The Minister hinted at the possibility of the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Port Harcourt International Airport, and Enugu Airport accommodating foreign travelers before year-end.

In September, the Nigerian government barred some airlines from entering the West African nation as it resumed international flight operations.

The airlines include Air France, KLM Royal Dutch, Lufthansa, Etihad Airways, RwandAir, Air Namibia, Royal Air Maroc and TAAG Angola.

Some of the airlines were denied permission to enter because Nigerians with tourist visas have been banned from entering those countries. The ones that fell under this category were: Air France, KLM Royal Dutch, Lufthansa and Etihad Airways.

The post International Flights: FG Lifts Ban On Lufthansa, Air France appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

The Minister wrote on his Twitter page: “Glad to announce the resumption of international flights from the 29th of August, 2020. Beginning with Lagos and Abuja as we did with the domestic flight resumption. Protocols and procedures will be announced in due course. We thank you for your patience.

The post Breaking: FG Set To Open International Flights On August 29 appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

Hadi Sirika, on Sunday in a tweet wrote: “Glad to announce that the following airports are open for full domestic operations, hence ministerial approvals in and out of them is not required. This includes private and charter operations. We will keep you informed on the reminder airports in due course, please.”

Domestic flights were suspended in Nigeria since March 2020 then gradually opened on July 8, 2020.

The post COVID-19: FG Opens 14 Airports For Full Domestic Operations appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

The Minister during the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 press briefing on Thursday recalled that former governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari; Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State were allegedly violated protocols put in place to arrest the spread of coronavirus in Nigeria.

Media mogul, Nduka Obaigbena, was reported to be among the “unruly passengers” who disregarded the COVID-19 protocols.

“They are being investigated and if found true, we will do the needful and if it is found untrue, we’ll definitely apologize to these individuals.”

The post Yari, Fintiri, Obaigbena To Face Persecution If Found Guilty- Hadi Sirika appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

My colleagues & I have reviewed passenger facilitation at our airports, consequently I am happy to announce that, henceforth travelers are to arrive one hour and a half before their departure time for domestic flights. Travelers are advised to check in online, please

— Hadi Sirika (@hadisirika) July 13, 2020

Recall that the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 had earlier released the guidelines for reopening of the domestic flights.

Earlier, travellers were advised to arrive at the airport three hours before departure.

The post Travellers Can Now Arrive One & Half Hour Before Departure – Hadi Sirika appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

In his Press briefing during the daily update by the PTF COVID-19, Sirika said the company has been banned from operations indefinitely while the captain has been suspended for providing false information.

Breaking it down, he said the letter granting the 24-hour leeway for the company, Executive Jet was for the company to convey Justice Adefope Okojie for her official duty.

The approved letter read; “I am directed to refer to your letter dated 11th of June 2020 on the above subject matter and to convey the Hon. Minister’s approval for your company, Executive Jet Services to operate on a return flight from the Murtala Muhammad Airport Lagos to Nnamdi Azikwe Airport Abuja on the 14th of June 2020 to drop off Hon Justice Adefope Okojie for her official assignments.”

The post FG Suspends Flight Company That Conveyed Naira Marley From Lagos To Abuja appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.