Following the new Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) signed between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Nigerian carriers can now fly into any of the airports in the UAE nations. 

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo disclosed on Wednesday that both countries have entered a new phase in their BASA relationship that will ensure mutual benefits for airlines and citizens of the two countries. 

Speaking at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos after arriving from Dubai alongside officials of Emirates Airlines and diplomats from Dubai, Keyamo said “We identified as a government, we identified the UAE as a major and important partner and country that we should restore our relationship with.” 

“I went there, we signed a new air service agreement, bilateral air service agreement, you know, redefining our relationship all together again, making it more healthy, making it more open, and for the benefits, especially of the Nigerian people, and I decided to accompany them there.”

Speaking of the agreements he said “First of all, you have more options for indigenous carriers who are also flying to destinations in the Middle East and other lands. The first thing we did when we went to negotiate a new bilateral service agreement was to also secure the route for our local operators. 

And I’m sure you saw my statement last week. It was one of the major things I stood my ground on. And if you look at the new one, it said to any destination, so nobody is going to have to say, well, this is prime, this is not prime airport. Our agreement with them is they fly to any destination, we fly to any destination in the UAE. So it’s purely reciprocal in that respect”

The Minister disclosed that Emirates Airlines is currently in talks with domestic airlines in Nigeria for a codeshare agreement. 





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