During a visit to the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace in Abuja, a delegation from the USA, led by Houston Texas Mayor, Mr. Sylvester Turner, received this commitment from Dr. Emmanuel Meribole, the permanent secretary of the Ministry.

Meribole expressed the administration’s receptiveness to investment, tourism, and the enhancement of existing bilateral ties. He emphasized that all necessary modalities for the Bilateral Air Services Agreement to facilitate direct flights to Houston would commence promptly after the appointment and deployment of new Ministers.

Mayor Turner conveyed his gratitude for the hospitality extended by the Nigerian Government during their visit. He emphasized the objective of building stronger ties between the United States and Africa, with Houston being Africa’s second-largest urban trade partner in the US and a significant hub for the Nigerian diaspora.

Houston’s strategic geographic location and robust infrastructure make it a gateway for trade to the central and western United States. Mayor Turner’s visit aimed to complement Houston’s initiatives to expand relations with Nigeria, with a focus on healthcare, technology, agriculture, energy, and education.

Ambassador Akinyemi Bolaji of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs also assured the Mayor that the proposal for a consulate office in Houston would be duly considered. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs pledged to prioritize Houston, Texas, as the first city to receive such a consulate office request.

The commitment to establish a direct flight and consulate office in Houston underscores Nigeria’s eagerness to strengthen its ties with the United States, while also providing opportunities for enhanced trade, investment, and cooperation in various sectors between the two nations.

The move is expected to foster greater connectivity and promote mutually beneficial exchanges, further solidifying the relationship between Nigeria and the United States

This was revealed on Thursday, August 18, in a statement by the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which cited its inability to repatriate its foreign exchange revenues from Nigeria.

​​Over 20 foreign airlines worth at least $600 million have had their flights to Nigeria barred since the year began.

Emirates had stated two weeks prior that around $85 million of this cash were in Nigeria.

Emirates has requested Nigeria’s minister of aviation, Hadi Sirika, to help with the repatriation of its $85 million in earnings.

The airline had reduced its 11 weekly frequencies into Lagos Airport to 7 as of Monday, August 15.

The airline said the suspension would “limit further losses and reduce the impact on its operational costs that continue to accumulate in the Nigerian market”.

​Emirates Airlines said in a statement: “Therefore, Emirates has taken the difficult decision to suspend all flights to and from Nigeria, effective September 1, 2022, to limit further losses and impact on our operational costs that continue to accumulate in the market.”

“We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to our customers. However, the circumstances are beyond our control at this stage. We will be working to help impacted customers make alternative travel arrangements wherever possible.

“Should there be any positive developments in the coming days regarding Emirates’ blocked funds in Nigeri​​a, we remain keen to serve Nigeria, and our operations provide much-needed connectivity for Nigerian travelers, providing access to trade and tourism opportunities to Dubai, and to our broader network of over 130 destinations.”

According to the statement signed by the spokesman of the AON, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, and titled, ‘Public Notification on Acute Shortage of Aviation Fuel and Flight Disruption’, a copy of which was made available to TechEconomy.

The statement reads: “This is to notify the members of the public, especially, consumers of air transport services in the country, that the aviation sector has been hit by a major crisis with the acute scarcity of aviation fuel otherwise known as Jet-A1.

”For this reason, there will be major disruptions in scheduled flight operations including cancellations and unnecessary delays across all airports in the country.

“This is a foreseen but unintended consequence of aviation fuel scarcity in the country.

“We, therefore, plead for the understanding of the traveling public to bear with our members as efforts are currently being made to address the development and restore normal flight operations.

“AON is committed to rendering seamless and uninterrupted air transport service across the country.”