The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, and Emirates Airline have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to boost tourism in Nigeria.
Both parties formalised the deal during the 2025 Arabian Travel Market held in Dubai. This was made known in a statement made available to The PUNCH on Wednesday.
According to the statement, the partnership is designed to position Nigeria as a leading travel destination in Africa, leveraging Emirates’ expansive global network of over 140 passenger destinations.
The airline promotes that Emirates will promote Nigeria’s tourism offerings to international markets, highlighting its diverse cultural heritage and natural attractions, from coastal landscapes to vibrant wetlands.
The MoU was signed by a Senior Vice President for Commercial Operations at Emirates, Adil Al Ghaith, while the Special Assistant to the Nigerian Minister on Sub-National Development and Tourism, Abiola Abdulkareem, signed for the ministry in the presence of the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, and other high-ranking officials from both sides.
Commenting on the deal, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, Adnan Kazim, said the agreement marks a deepening of the airline’s commitment to Nigeria.
“Since resuming operations in Lagos in October 2024, we’ve prioritised strategic collaboration in aviation, tourism, and trade. This partnership invites international travelers to explore Nigeria’s dynamic culture, natural beauty, and signature hospitality,” he stated.
Minister Musawa hailed the agreement as a transformative step in achieving Nigeria’s Destination 2030 Soft Power Initiative.
She said, “This collaboration is key to promoting our cultural assets on a global stage. With Emirates’ global reach, we aim to drive economic growth, empower local communities, and elevate Nigeria’s profile as a cultural and creative powerhouse.”
The agreement also involves collaboration with the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority to support marketing campaigns, training programmes, and familiarisation trips for travel stakeholders.
Emirates said this development will complement recent developments in Nigeria’s aviation sector, including an interline agreement between Emirates and airline Air Peace, which allows connections from Dubai to 13 additional cities in Nigeria.
