Nigeria to enforce principle of reciprocity as international flights resume -

Nigeria will enforce the principle of reciprocity in granting permission to airlines to resume operations in the country as it opens its airspace.

What it means is that only airlines from countries that allow flights from Nigeria will be allowed to fly into and out of the country.

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika disclosed this at Thursday’s media briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja.

According to Sirika, the country’s position is informed by the ban placed by some countries on flights from Nigeria, and Nigeria’s decision was taken in the interest of its citizens.

The Minister who was represented by Musa Nuhu, the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), also disclosed that airlines will be informed on arrangements put in place to ensure that resumption of flights will be hitch-free.

He also stated that for now, only a few flights per day will be permitted as a test run for the protocols put in place to ensure a safe return to international operations. The protocols, according to him, would be made public in due course.

He expressed his appreciation to the airlines, Aviation workers, travelers, and all stakeholders for their patience and understanding and urged all hands to be on deck in ensuring a successful and efficient resumption of international flight operations.

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Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.