Nigerians May Use Togo, Ghana Airports For International Travels As More Airlines Will Suspend Services To Nigeria

Nigerians May Use Togo, Ghana Airports For International Travels As More Airlines Will Suspend Services To Nigeria – Foreign Airlines Association

The President of the Association of Foreign Airlines and Representatives in Nigeria, Kingsley Nwokeoma, has said the Emirates Airlines’ suspension of its flights to Nigeria over trapped forex is just the beginning as more international carriers would join soon if nothing was done to address their concerns.

Nwokeoma said this while reacting to the trapped forex of international airlines in Nigeria, which is the major reason Emirates Airlines suspended its flights.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) had expressed concerns over the decision by the Nigerian government to block foreign airlines from repatriating ticket sales revenue amounting to $450 million (N188.6bn) into their respective countries.

Emirates Airlines, while announcing the suspension of its flights to Nigeria on

Thursday stated that it “has tried every avenue to address our ongoing challenges in repatriating funds from Nigeria, and we have made considerable efforts to initiate dialogue with the relevant authorities for their urgent intervention to help find a viable solution.”

In his reaction, the President of the Association of Foreign Airlines and Representatives in Nigeria noted that if other countries were like Nigeria, the industry would not have existed as there would be no money for maintenance.

The Punch quoted Nwokeoma as saying, “This is just the beginning. It is over $1 billion dollars that is being held and they (foreign airlines) cannot repatriate it. If other countries are like Nigeria, there will not be any industry because this money is used for maintenance. Even the money used to pay their staff in Nigeria is coming from other climes.

“Aviation industry is all about 100 per cent safety. If there is no money, safety will not be 100 per cent guaranteed. So, it is going to continue. Emirates has kick-started it and I’m sure that you are aware that British Airways has cut flights into Nigeria and that is how it is going to start.

“Just like Emirates did, they will first of all cut their flight into Nigeria and they will look at it holistically again and if it is not working out, then it’s not working out. This did not start today. It started over the years and the government is not doing anything.”

Speaking further, he said, “Look at it this way, when things were not this bad, what commitment did the government make? Is it now that things are gloomy? So, we hope that we don’t have to go to Benin Republic, Togo or Ghana before we can fly out or do our international travels.”

He observed that most passengers from Nigeria travelled to Dubai and the Middle East using Emirates Airlines.

“So if they are not coming into Nigeria, it means there is going to be a big vacuum which nobody can fill. It will continue because the airlines will start reducing frequencies,” he said.

“I keep asking this question that if other climes are behaving like Nigeria, will there be an aviation sector? The airplanes that come in are not our freight. They have to pay Boeing, they pay AirBus, they pay all these people, they have a payment scheme and where is the money coming from? So, it is an issue.”

A few hours after the report of Emirates Airline's suspension of its airlines to Nigeria filtered the air on Thursday, British Airways informed its passengers that it was changing to full fares at any moment.

A notice by the airways quoted by The Punch read, “Good afternoon. Please be informed that information reaching us from BA indicates that the airline is changing to full fares F, J, W and Y any moment from now. Kindly let (us) issue any pending tickets to avoid fare increase.”

Explaining the meaning of the notice, Nwokeoma said “It is basically to cover for the dollar loss, but some airlines are doing it already. So, that means air tickets will be more expensive.

“It will be more expensive because it will now be in relationship with the black market rate. So, the F, J, W, Y middle seats will be more expensive.”

SaharaReporters earlier reported that IATA described the blockage of $464 million in repatriation money for basically foreign airline companies in July by the Nigerian Government as disappointing.

The group warned that if the money is not repatriated to the companies concerned, the Nigerian economy will suffer.

About two weeks ago, Emirates said that out of these funds, it had about $85 million in Nigeria.

On Monday, the airline cut its 11 weekly frequencies into Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos to seven.

In a statement by its media consultant in Nigeria, the airline alleged that all efforts to repatriate the funds had been futile. It said it was compelled to suspend all flights into the country.

IATA, in a tweet on Thursday, said it is “disappointed that the amount of airline money blocked from repatriation by the #The Nigerian government grew to $464 million in July. #blockedfunds.”

"IATA’s many warnings that failure to restore timely repatriation will hurt Nigeria with reduced air connectivity are proving true with the withdrawal of @emirates from the market.

"Airlines can’t be expected to fly if they can’t realize revenue from ticket sales. Loss of connectivity harms the economy, hurts investor confidence, impacts jobs and people’s lives,” it added.

"The Government of Nigeria needs to prioritize the release funds before more damage is done," IATA said.

— Sahara Reporters

Comments

BOOK EXCERPT: The Farmhouse by Omoruyi Uwuigiaren

The Farmhouse by Omoruyi Uwuigiaren Chapter One The Family `Once upon a time in the old town of Gid, an old farmer called Erasmus had a horse and a son. The boy’s name was Jason, and the horse was Francis. They lived in a farmhouse, and Francis took them everywhere they went. The farmer had no wife. She died after Jason was born. Erasmus vowed never to remarry and had remained a widower ever since. Taking care of Jason and Francis alone was never easy, but the farmer promised his late wife on her deathbed that he was going to raise Jason into a fine man. One sad morning, the cockerel said it was dawn. The disturbance woke Jason. The boy stormed out of sleep. He removed the blanket and rolled out of bed. He went to the window and peered out. The weather was clear, and the boughs of trees bowed and danced to the sweet movement of the morning breeze. Jason liked the morning, and then he carried himself to the sitting room, where his father was on his knees saying his morning prayers....

From the novel entitled, "Beyond Imagination" by Oladele Dada.

Oladele Dada. It was dawn. The chilly dust-laden wind formed dense fog on the road. The rocky hills and the tall trees made Ajewole a beautiful town. The birds sang aloud, and clanging of stainless dishes in the neighbourhood suggested human activity was at its peak. Humans had begun to move to their various destinations. Adunni had trouble with child bearing and her husband was worried. Then she booked an appointment with her doctor. After several tests, the doctor suggested the couple be patient and that she will surely get pregnant. Not long after, Adunni was pregnant. After several months, Adunni was delivered of a boy. The women in her neighbourhood, alongside the children, sang and danced to her home to celebrate with her. Her husband, Fredrick Olagbade, thanked the Lord and named the boy Juwon. As Juwon grew, his mother had another child whose name was Olakitan. Juwon was intelligent and his parents were struggling to make ends meet. As poverty st...

NEW RELEASE: Those Ghostly Victorians by Annette Siketa

Those Ghostly Victorians by Annette Siketa ABOUT THE BOOK At its zenith, the belief in ghosts in the Victorian era bordered on the hysterical. From stately homes to deserted wells, no dwelling was complete without a resident ghost. Halls and mansions and even the odd palace or two, spawned a multitude of family legends, many of which still persist. Many people claimed to have direct contact with a ghost through an object such as a ouija board or a pen, the latter collectively known as 'spiritual writing'. For example, a secretary allegedly continued to take dictation from his employer long after the latter was dead. Whether it was through books, plays, or supposedly true stories, the influence of the supernatural was profound. And it is not difficult to understand why, especially in the 'lower class', the majority of whom were uneducated. With nothing but drabness and poverty on the horizon, events such as a windy night or a violent storm were likely to set the ima...

NEW RELEASE: “COMING HOME” BY OMORUYI UWUIGIAREN

COMING HOME BY OMORUYI UWUIGIAREN About the Book Dalmos didn’t just save her life; he became her silent guardian, shielding her from the crushing weight of medical bills and the trauma of her past. When Lizzy reaches out to thank her mysterious saviour, she expects a formal meeting. Instead, she finds a man drowning in a different kind of silence—the lingering grief of losing his wife to a battle he couldn’t win. In the quiet intimacy of a “ party for two ,” two shattered souls begin to piece themselves back together. Lizzy is running from a toxic past and a brutal assault; Dalmos is hiding from a house filled with echoes. Together, they discover that while the world can be cruel, the right person can make it worth surviving. Excerpt Chapter 1 The task at my office wasn't just a project; it was a paper mountain that loomed over my desk, threatening to bury me alive. Every end of the season was like this—a brutal marathon t...

BOOK EXCERPT: THE POLITICALLY INCORRECT DICTIONARY by Annette Siketa

THE POLITICALLY INCORRECT DICTIONARY Annette Siketa © Copyright Annette Siketa, 2025 EXTRACT Author’s Note. I have no doubt that some readers will find some of the listings in this dictionary, offensive, and while I regret any discomfort this might cause, neither I nor anyone else has the right to censor history. Therefore, no listing comes with an apology. Readers should bear the following points in mind: • Words such as ‘bastard’, ‘gay’, and ‘queer’, are used in their original context. • Unless specified otherwise, all places are located in England . • Some quoted text could not be verified due to the passage of time. In these instances, the text is quoted exactly as it appears in the source material. • Where a word has evolved into different meanings, the oldest known meaning is usually given first. • As a general rule , some old, misspelt, and hyphenated words have bee...

The City Heroes and Other Stories from the Heart of Africa

Tonight during story time take a trip to the heart of Africa. Make new friends including a clutter of cats otherwise known as The City Heroes. Follow a pair of jungle ants as they rescue their friend from a raging storm. Tag along with a country boy as he hunts wild birds to prepare a feast for his father’s arrival. Understand the true meaning of mercy and charity when a stranger is caught stealing eggs from a farmer. Help a baby named Thomas find his way home after he strays from his father’s boat. Follow Blaize and his newfound canine friend Thatcher as they thwart a group of kidnappers in Blaize and the Master of Enchantment. Beautifully illustrated pictures help tell all six stories including The City Heroes, The Jungle Ants, The Country Boy, Stranger on the Farm, Baby Thomas and Blaize and the Master of Enchantment. Encounter adventures beyond your wildest dreams, learn about the beautiful country of Nigeria, and see how easy and how fun it is to learn about a new culture...

BOOK EXCERPT: The Bald Monkey by Dickon Levinge

The Bald Monkey by Dickon Levinge ABOUT THE BOOK An anarchic black comedy of denial, anger, obsession, revenge and extremely poor judgement. Seven years after losing his wife Henry still grieves. Her body was never recovered and Henry, a photographer who lives in the idealised snapshots of his past, stubbornly maintains she's just missing. Now his estranged sister-in-law, Marion, re-enters his life to finally have her sister declared legally dead. Local gallery owner Sonia 'Groucho' K discovers who was responsible for the tragedy. Wounded by a recent betrayal she sees an opportunity for vengeance-by-proxy. She leads Henry and 'Dizzy' Des, a former convict with a kind heart but a hair-trigger temper, on an elaborate mission to disappear the culprit. The trio conspire in their regular watering hole, The Bald Monkey, and their plan becomes increasingly absurd. Meanwhile, Henry rekindles his once close friendship with Marion, the only remotely level-headed member ...

Ruyi's World of Books & Stories

Search This Blog