By Emmanuel Nduka
The Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) appears to have soft-pedalled on its diplomatic row with the Nigerian Government, with latest reports indicating that the UAE has conceded seven flight slots to Air Peace, Nigeria’s only carrier into its country.
According to a source, the UAE has also granted the Nigerian carrier the permit to fly directly to Dubai, instead of Sharjah Airport, as earlier operated.
Meanwhile, the UAE Government said it was unaware of alleged stoppage of Nigerians from entering any part of the Emirates through other carriers, as widely reported in the media yesterday.
The source adds that the General Civil Aviation Authority sent a letter dated December 13, 2021 to Air Peace in that regard.
Although Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs was not copied in breach of protocol, the Nigerian Government was said to have received the letter.
“As at 7pm, the General Civil Aviation Authority of the UAE has written to Air Peace to come and take its slots. Unlike before, the UAE conceded seven slots to the Nigerian carrier
“In the letter, the UAE said Air Peace can fly directly to Dubai and not Sharjah Airport. This is the latest on the development.
“Even though they did not follow the right diplomatic channel by writing the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs which will in turn inform the Aviation Minister, this is still a positive development,” the source said.
On whether the UAE has stopped other carriers from conveying Nigerians to Dubai, the source said: “This is in the realm of rumours. I don’t think it is true. No official communication banning Nigerians from entering Dubai through other carriers. If anybody has such a directive, let him or her produce it. It will be in gross violation of international civil aviation regulations.
“The Federal Government got no such information at the diplomatic or official level. I think with the latest concessions, the UAE was trying to avoid a diplomatic row with Nigeria. We also do not want any row with the UAE.”
