The Nigerian Government, through the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, on Thursday reiterated that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) carriers would return to the Nigerian routes very soon.
The Minister explained that the Federal Government is also insisting on reciprocity based on the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) arrangements with the two countries.
Speaking in Abuja at the second day of the 7th Aviation Summit hosted by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Keyamo explained that UAE Government has agreed to give to Nigerian carriers any routes they requested for but said must be based on reciprocity.
Keyamo said: “All kinds of permission will be taken from local authorities and of course, I made the point in speaking with them and I made it clear that they will have to give our airlines reciprocal rights under our Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASAs).
“That is the point I insisted on, and they did say that any spot we need, they will give us too as much as we give them those spots within Nigeria.”
Besides, Keyamo assured that it would ensure the trapped funds of foreign airlines are released to them very soon by the Nigerian Government.