Emirates celebrated its 2nd coming to Nigeria with a terse reception. Here is the cake being cut as a toast to the inaugural flight. Dignitaries present included Mr Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation, and Adil Al Ghaith, Emirates Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations, Gulf, Middle East, and Central Asia
Management of Emirates airline has expressed immense gratitude to the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the un-flinching cooperation which facilitated the Dubai-based airline’s return to Nigeria after two years of diplomatic impasse.
The airline’s management also confessed that “Nigeria has always been one of our most important markets, with 14 weekly flights to and from Lagos and 7 to Abuja” as
obtained before the frosty diplomatic relationship.
Paying tributes for the nature endowment to Nigeria in the resilience of its people and to the diplomatic savvy of the present Federal Government of Nigeria, FGN, was the representative of Emirates Airlines’ management who led the entourage that accompanied the Boeing 777-300, with flight number, K-703, on Emirates’ second coming inaugural flight, last Wednesday, was Adil Al Ghaith, Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations, Gulf, Middle East, and Central Asia.
Speaking the mind of the airlines’ owners and management, Adil Al Ghaith, enthused, “We are delighted to be back, and this time, we are back for good,” he said.
He further emphasized the strong ties between the UAE and Nigeria, expressing gratitude to the federal government for the unquantifiable support in making the return possible. He thereafter affirmed, “We are back today, and we came to stay.”
Responding, the leader of the Nigerian government delegation in the second coming inaugural flight, Mr Festus Keyamo, Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister, humorously referred to Al Ghaith’s statement, as reflecting a renewed cohabitation among a strained couple who obviously experienced losses while the separation lasted.
Keyamo sounded it loud, and clear that “Nigeria, as Africa’s largest economy and with its most travelled population, must be a priority for Emirates”.
He also hinted at his administration’s destination while he keeps watch over air transport in Nigeria thus, “our potential to become the continent’s aviation hub makes this partnership essential,” Keyamo added.
The inaugural flight safe landing reception peaked with a ceremonial cake-cutting and an exchange of memorabilia to commemorate the renewed partnership between Emirates Airlines and Nigeria. Industry watchers claimed that in the UAE visa policy for Nigerians, they are yet to see what actually impacts travel and detest a situation whereby, what is given at the swings is taken away at the roundabout.
Other principal officers among the Nigerian delegation apart from the team captain, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, included Capt. Chris Ona Najomo, Acting Director General Civil Aviation, Ag DGCA, the Nigeria CAA; Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN; Capt. Alex Badeh Jr., Director General of the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB; and all the management staff of FAAN.
About Post Author
