The Federal Government of Nigeria has said non-inclusiveness of the country in the list of nations permitted flying into Europe, and the United Arab Emirates would not be a deterrent to the opening of the airspace to international flight operations. The Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika via his twitter handle, @hadisirika said, “We will announce the agreed date, regardless of the ban by Europe, UAE the resumption maybe earlier than October.”

He debunked a report that said international flight resumption will be in October.

He explained that the Notice To Airmen (NOTAM), issued by the Nigerian Airspace Agency of Nigeria (NAMA), is a routine notice. “International Flight resumption date is not October. NAMA just issued a routine 90-day Notices to Airmen (NOTAM).”

He also commented that collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 will give rise to the agreed date. “In liaison with Health, Foreign Affairs & PTF COVID-19, etc,” he said.

Before the closure of the airspace to international scheduled operations, Air France, Lufthansa and KLM were operating from Europe as Etihad Airways and Emirates operate from the United Arab Emirates.

According to the last discussion by stakeholders on the resumption of international flights, it was mentioned that agreement between two countries will come to play as one country cannot open its airspace without concrete agreement with the other nation.

The Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation (NCAA), Capt. Nuhu Musa said ‘it will not be as easy as the resumption of domestic operations’, as each country is trying to protect its people from Covid-19. He also hinted that the country’s National Facilitation Committee will have a say in the resumption of regional and intercontinental flights.