Emirates (EK, Dubai International) will reinstate flights to/from Lagos from September 11, 2022, welcoming the decision by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to release part of the airline's blocked funds.

"We continue to engage with the Nigerian authorities to ensure the repatriation of our outstanding and future funds may continue without hindrance," the airline said in a statement. The amount paid out was not disclosed, but Nigeria had held USD85 million of Emirates' revenue from ticket sales in July 2022.

Emirates, in protest, cancelled its flights to Lagos and Abuja, from September 1, 2022, stating its operations to the West African country had become financially unviable.

Nigeria eventually buckled under international pressure and released USD265 million it had owed to international airlines from unrepatriated ticket sales.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Nigeria, in July 2022, held USD464 million worth of unremitted airline funds. With the latest pay-out, this still leaves USD199 million in CBN coffers.