Trapped funds: Emirates says all efforts to return to Nigeria abortive

Emirates, one of two flag carriers of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has disclosed that all efforts it has made to resume operations into Nigeria in the last five months it suspended flights into the country has proved abortive.

This is as the carrier disclosed that currently around 50 percent of the amount approved for clearing within its backlog is still overdue for repatriation.

The airline said in a statement that it has been five months since it suspended operations to and from Nigeria, and during this time it has seen little progress in the clearing of its backlog of funds.

According to the airline, as of today, Emirates still has a substantial balance of blocked funds that is yet to be repatriated, and the progressive clearing its backlog remains beset with constant delays.

“Today, around 50 percent of the amount approved for clearing within our backlog is still overdue for repatriation,” the airline stated.

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According to the airline, it had made many concerted efforts to enable a swift return to Nigeria but all efforts have not yielded needed solutions.

“We had proposed a number of solutions and measures to recover our funds, and engaged in dialogue with government stakeholders and industry bodies. Regretfully and despite many media reports of public assurances made at the highest levels, solutions continue to be stalled.

“We acknowledge that the wider aviation industry and the local value chain it supports in Nigeria face a similar market reality,” the statement read.

The airline further stated that unless there is a committed strategy by the local authorities to deliver concrete action, air services for travellers, for businesses seeking global market opportunities and for investments – all supported through air transport and critical to Nigeria’s economic recovery – will continue to dwindle.

“We remain committed to finding a mutual resolution with the Nigerian government and Central Bank to repatriate the rest of our blocked funds in a swift manner, and provide a roadmap that includes firm measures to prevent future repatriation accumulation challenges and delays.

“We call on them to work with us, hand in hand, to ensure Nigerian travellers and businesses have unfettered connectivity and access to our global network,” the airline added.

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.