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Emirates Airline Resumes Dubai–Lagos Flights to Bring Stranded Nigerians Home Amid Middle East Crisis
Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following military confrontations between Israel and Iran, Middle Eastern airline Emirates has announced the resumption of its Dubai–Lagos–Dubai flight operations.
The airline confirmed that flights between Dubai and Lagos resumed on Friday, March 6, 2026. The route had been temporarily suspended last week due to widespread airspace disruptions caused by the intensifying conflict in the region.
Sources close to the airline’s operations revealed that the immediate goal of restarting the service is to transport stranded Nigerians in the United Arab Emirates back home.
Several Middle Eastern carriers had halted flights after multiple countries closed their airspace following coordinated strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian targets.
U.S. President Donald Trump described the attacks as a major combat operation, prompting global airlines to reroute flights that normally pass through the busy Middle East aviation corridor.
The disruptions affected numerous long-haul routes connecting Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America, forcing airlines to quickly adjust schedules amid growing safety concerns.
The situation intensified after missiles were reportedly launched from Israel toward Iran, followed by retaliatory strikes by Iranian forces. As a result, airlines around the world began avoiding certain airspace corridors.
This led to the cancellation or diversion of several international flights, including services linking India, the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East, and North America.
After initially suspending its operations, Emirates said it was closely monitoring developments and maintaining communication with aviation authorities before deciding when it would be safe to resume flights. Passengers were advised to regularly check the airline’s travel updates and flight status pages before heading to the airport.
In a message sent to its trade partners in Nigeria, the airline confirmed the resumption of the Lagos route.
“We will be operating the Dubai–Lagos–Dubai flight (EK783 & EK784) on 6th March 2026,” the carrier stated.
The airline said the resumed flights would give passengers an opportunity to continue their travel plans after days of uncertainty caused by the crisis. It also encouraged travellers to secure seats quickly, warning that demand is expected to rise sharply.
While some flights resumed across the Gulf region on Friday, disruptions continued elsewhere. A Lufthansa aircraft bound for Saudi Arabia diverted to Cairo due to safety concerns, while a repatriation flight by Air France was forced to turn back after reports of missile activity.
The outbreak of hostilities involving the United States and Israel against Iran has triggered widespread flight cancellations across the Middle East, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and forcing airlines and governments to arrange emergency repatriation flights.
Many travellers have spent large sums trying to leave the region, with last-minute airport rushes, overland travel to alternative hubs, and in some cases fighter jets escorting commercial aircraft. Some passengers described the situation as “absolute chaos.”
With much of the region’s airspace still closed due to missile and drone threats, wealthy travellers have turned to private jets while charter flights and limited commercial services struggle to evacuate tens of thousands of people.
France’s Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said the situation highlights the instability in the region and the challenges involved in repatriation efforts.
Meanwhile, Britain’s first repatriation flight from Oman landed at London Stansted Airport early Friday after delays, while similar operations were underway across Europe.
With the conflict showing no signs of easing, aviation disruptions are expected to continue. The European Union aviation regulator European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has extended its warning about the risks of flying over the region until March 11.
Despite the challenges, Emirates said it aims to restore “100 percent of its network” in the coming days. However, Lufthansa warned that the conflict creates uncertainty for the airline industry.
“The war in the Middle East proves once again how exposed air traffic is and how vulnerable it remains,” said Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr.
Air travel between Europe and the Asia-Pacific region has been particularly affected. Data from aviation analytics firm Cirium shows that Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways normally transport about one-third of passengers traveling from Europe to Asia and more than half of those heading to Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.
At Dubai International Airport (DXB), normally the world’s busiest international hub, flight traffic nearly doubled compared to the previous day but still remained only about 25 percent of normal levels, according to flight-tracking service Flightradar24.
Etihad announced it would operate a limited schedule until March 19, serving about 70 destinations including London, Paris, Frankfurt, Delhi, New York and Toronto.
Emirates also said it is operating a reduced schedule to 82 destinations such as Sydney, Singapore and New York, with transit passengers in Dubai accepted only if their connecting flights are operating.
Meanwhile, the main hub in Doha remains closed, although authorities have arranged limited relief flights from Oman and Saudi Arabia. Airline flydubai also plans to resume flights from the UAE to Israel early next week.
Rising oil prices have added to the aviation sector’s challenges. Jet fuel costs have surged, with Singapore jet fuel hitting a record $225 per barrel this week due to fears of supply disruptions from Middle Eastern refineries.
Ratings agency Fitch Ratings warned that airlines could face financial pressure from higher fuel costs in addition to revenue losses from disrupted flights.
By Gloria Ikibah
A fresh layer of scrutiny has been placed on billions of dollars in international health funding as the House of Representatives resumed its investigative hearing into grants received by Nigeria for the fight against major infectious diseases.
Chairman House Committee on Infectious Diseases, Rep. Amobi Ogah, in his opening remarks at the hearing on Wednesday in Abuja, called for transparency, cooperation and renewed commitment from all stakeholders involved in managing the funds.
“I want to welcome you all to this resumed hearing on the need to investigate the over $1.8 and $2.8 billion dollars grant received by Nigeria from Global Fund and USAID from 2021–2025,” he said.
Ogah reminded stakeholders that the probe followed a formal mandate by the House in October 2025, adding that earlier sessions had been delayed by public holidays.
He emphasised that the inquiry should not be misconstrued as an attempt to target individuals or organisations.
“You will recall that the House of Representatives… passed the resolution mandating the committee… to investigate this matter and report back.
“After a protracted delay… we are resuming the hearing and the committee is calling for the maximum cooperation of key stakeholders.
“I must reiterate that this exercise is not to witch-hunt anybody, nor a vendetta,.
“Rather it is borne out of the desire to put Nigeria and Nigerians in the epicentre of all our policy thrust, especially on issues of public health threats,” Ogah stated.”
The Committee Chairman explained that the investigation also aimed to reassure international donors of Nigeria’s commitment to proper financial management.
“It is also to restore confidence in our international donor partners… and to ensure that whatever grant we receive must be judiciously expended,” he added.
While acknowledging the contributions of development partners and health actors, Ogah signalled tighter legislative oversight going forward.
“Permit me to remind the Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanism Nigeria that the National Assembly will request the submission of all implementation plans to the Parliament for approval.
“We also expect quarterly reports of the activities of all recipients and sub-recipients”, he said.
He noted that these measures would become effective as Nigeria prepares for the next phase of Global Fund financing.
Looking ahead, Ogah warned that the country’s ambition to eliminate major infectious diseases by 2030 may be slipping out of reach.
Rep. Ogah called for better coordination across the health sector to avoid waste and duplication.
“I believe we are at a decisive turning point and it is apparent that the target of eliminating all public health threats by the year 2030 may no longer be feasible.
“However, we must not fold our hands… much needs to be done to maximise and efficiently utilise the resources at our disposal.
“There is need to streamline what state actors and non-state actors are doing… so that resources can be efficiently allocated,” Ogah urged.
Reaffirming the committee’s role, he said that the Committee will continue to provide the legislative support to “ensure full implementation of the response against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other infectious diseases in our country.”
Two major gubernatorial aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Oyo State, Mr Adebayo Adelabu and Barrister Sharafadeen Alli, have picked the party’s Expression of Interest and Nomination forms ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The duo picked the forms on Wednesday in Abuja.
Adelabu is the immediate past Minister of Power and hails from Ibadan.
Alli, on the other hand, currently represents Oyo South Senatorial District on the platform of the APC.
He is also an indigene of Ibadan, the state capital.
Recall that Adelabu’s Personal Assistant, Mr Ajiboye, picked up the form on behalf of his boss at the APC Secretariat in Abuja.
Alli, on his part, collected the form himself in Abuja.
Alli was accompanied by some members of the House of Representatives, among whom were Remi Oseni, Akeem Adeyemi, Olamiju Alao-Akala, and Akin Alabi.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has urged the government of South Africa to step up protection for Nigerians and other black immigrants following reports of renewed xenophobic violence.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, April 29, NIDCOM Chairman/CEO Abike Dabiri-Erewa warned that the situation had worsened despite earlier diplomatic engagements between both countries.
According to the commission, recent reports suggest children of Nigerian descent are now afraid to attend school, while business owners are reluctant to open their shops for fear of looting, harassment and targeted attacks. Community leaders have also documented fresh incidents of violence and intimidation within the past 72 hours.
NIDCOM appealed to South African authorities to take “urgent and visible steps” to safeguard foreign nationals, citing obligations under international law and African Union protocols on free movement and human rights.
The commission rejected what it described as the profiling of Nigerians, stressing that crime should be treated as an individual matter. “Crime has no nationality,” the statement said, adding that offenders should be prosecuted under South African law rather than entire communities being stigmatised.
Among its demands, NIDCOM called for increased police patrols in areas where Nigerians live and work, swift arrests and prosecutions of perpetrators, and the creation of a joint Nigeria-South Africa community safety forum involving police, city officials and diaspora leaders.
The commission also urged South African authorities to issue clear public messages condemning xenophobia and stereotyping.
Nigerians living in South Africa were advised to remain law-abiding and avoid high-risk areas after dark. NIDCOM said it is in contact with the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, the consulate in Johannesburg, and Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
While condemning the attacks, the commission praised the majority of South Africans who continue to live peacefully with other Africans, expressing confidence in the longstanding ties between both nations and pledging continued diplomatic engagement to protect Nigerians abroad.
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