Emirates Airlines has announced that it will resume services to Nigeria starting October 1, 2024, offering daily flights between Lagos and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, providing customers with more choice and connectivity from Nigeria’s most populous city to Dubai and beyond.

The airline, in a statement on its media centre website, stated that it will operate the service using a Boeing 777-300ER, with flight EK783 departing Dubai at 0945hrs and arriving in Lagos at 1520hrs. The return flight, EK784, will leave Lagos at 1730hrs and arrive in Dubai at 0510hrs the next day. It also disclosed that tickets can now be booked on emirates.com or through travel agents.

Emirates Airlines suspended its flight operations to Nigeria in October 2022, citing difficulties in repatriating $85 million in revenue trapped in the country. The airline had previously halted services in August of the same year, also due to challenges in accessing its funds.

Speaking on the new development, Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ deputy president and chief commercial officer said, “We are excited to resume our services to Nigeria. The Lagos-Dubai service has traditionally been popular with customers in Nigeria and we hope to reconnect leisure and business travellers to Dubai and onwards to our network of over 140 destinations.  We thank the Nigerian government for their partnership and support in re-establishing this route and we look forward to welcoming passengers back onboard.”

With the resumption of flights to Nigeria, Emirates said it will now serve 19 African destinations with 157 weekly flights from Dubai. The airline noted that it has also expanded its reach within the continent through codeshare and interline partnerships with South African Airways, Airlink, Royal Air Maroc, Tunis Air, and others, providing passengers access to an additional 130 regional points in Africa.

The strengthened ties between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been instrumental in fostering bilateral trade relations. As a major economic hub in Africa, Nigeria has become a focal point for the UAE’s commercial activities, particularly in Lagos, the nation’s commercial center.

Emirates’ resumption of daily passenger flights is expected to further bolster trade relations by offering over 300 tonnes of bellyhold cargo capacity in and out of Lagos each week. This increased capacity, provided by Emirates SkyCargo, is set to enhance trade opportunities and support the economic growth of both nations.

According to the international traveller, the Emirates SkyCargo will play a pivotal role in supporting Nigerian businesses by facilitating the export of key commodities such as Kola nuts, food and beverages, and urgent courier material through its state-of-the-art hub in Dubai. These goods, it stated, will be transported to key markets such as the UAE, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Bahrain, among others.

Additionally, Emirates SkyCargo will also import essential goods like pharmaceuticals, electronics, and general cargo from vital markets including the UAE, India, and Hong Kong. This two-way trade flow is set to enhance economic opportunities for both Nigeria and the UAE.

The statement also made known that Emirates SkyCargo’s multi-vertical specialised product portfolio ensures that the goods are transported quickly, efficiently, and reliably, keeping trade flowing seamlessly and contributing to the growth of both nations.

Emirates Airlines also confirmed that its daily Lagos-Dubai service, commencing on October 1, 2024, will be operated using a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. This aircraft features eight luxurious First Class suites, 42 comfortable business class seats, and 304 economy class seats, providing passengers with a range of options to suit their preferences and budgets.

To enhance the in-flight experience, Emirates said it will offer regionally inspired multi-course menus curated by a team of award-winning chefs, accompanied by a wide selection of premium beverages.

Passengers are also expected to enjoy over 6,500 channels of global entertainment, including 23 Nigerian movies, on Emirates’ award-winning inflight entertainment system, ice. This extensive selection ensures that travelers have access to a diverse range of entertainment options throughout their journey.

The Ogun State Government on Thursday commenced the demolition of shanties and makeshift structures erected under bridges and public places across the state.

The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Environment, Farouk Akintunde, who led the operation, noted that the demolition exercise came after the expiration of notice issued to the traders.

He added that the shanties have become a hideout for criminals, which has resulted in insecurity.

Akintunde said, “We have issued them a notice since last year, but they refused to leave. The notice has expired. That is why we are here to demolish all makeshift, shanties, and illegal structures.

“These shanties have become a hideout for criminal elements, and the government won’t tolerate such. It is a continuous exercise.”

PUNCH Online gathered that the demolition has been carried out at Panseke, Kuto, and Nwarudeen areas of Abeokuta South Local Government Area of the state.

The House of Representatives has mandated its Committee on Commerce to investigate the daily increase in prices of commodities in the country.

This followed the adoption of a motion by Jesess Onuakalusi (PDP-Delta) on ”the Need to Awaken Price Control Board of Nigeria to its Constitutional Responsibilities” at plenary on Thursday.

Presenting the motion, Onuakalusi said that the price control board had abandoned its responsibility of controlling commodity prices to the marketers at the detriment of consumers.

He said that the take home pay of workers had yet to be increased, but the country was witnessing daily increase in prices of commodities.

‘’The responsibility of the price control board is to regulate the prices of all commodities in Nigeria,’’ he said.

He said that the practice of increasing prices of commodities by marketers was affecting low-income earners.

This, according to him, was because individuals who were unable to afford things at exorbitant prices would resort to other means or steal.

He expressed worry that the board had not taken action on the arbitrary increase in price of commodities by businessmen.

Adopting the motion, the House mandated the Committee on Commerce to investigate the daily increase in prices of commodities in the country and report within four weeks for further legislative action.