His Excellency, Abdullahi Ganduje, the executive Governor of Kano state has lamented that the rift between Emirates Airline and the Nigerian Government is responsible for the lack of transformation of the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano is witnessing at the moment.
The Governor says that the partnership between the country and the Emirates Airline is supposed to bring a positive change to the Kano Airport but this has come to a halt due to unresolved issues between the two countries.
Recall that Emirates Airline pulled out of the country in March over the dispute on additional rapid antigen tests imposed on Nigerian travelers. According to him, "the tests posed as a countermeasure to curb fake COVID-19 test results."
Nigerian international airports have continued to witness a decline in passengers' numbers for the past nine months because passengers could no longer fly directly from Nigeria to the UAE after Emirates withdrew its services from Nigeria and UAE government suspended other airlines within Nigeria and the UAE. The United Arab Emirates has since lost patronage from Nigeria and this has led to a loss of revenue for Nigeria as the country lost its easiest and busiest route (the UAE).
Emirates Airline has fixed several dates for the resumption of flight from Nigeria but non has seen the light of the day. Many Nigerians who are desperate to enter the UAE have been doing so through the neighbouring countries.
According to the Governor, "the state consulted Emirate airlines and they worked with us to upgrade the Kano airport but for COVID-19 and the ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve Emirates airline’s flight issues with Nigeria."
“The airline would have been operating out of Kano by now. That is how serious we are about making Kano a competitive destination,” the Governor stated.
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