Capt. Mohammed Madugu, a Nigerian-born pilot, proudly flew the first Emirates flight into Nigeria on Tuesday, marking the airline’s return after a two-year break. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) flag carrier suspended operations in September 2022, citing difficulties in repatriating over $80 million in trapped funds.

Previously, Emirates serviced routes to both Lagos and Abuja, but a subsequent visa ban on Nigerians further hindered travel between Nigeria and the UAE, leading to the suspension of flights by Air Peace and other carriers.

Resolution of this dispute became a priority for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with significant efforts made by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo. Following negotiations that resulted in the clearance of approximately $900 million in trapped funds, Emirates announced in May that it would resume operations to Nigeria on October 1, coinciding with Nigeria’s national day.

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At 3:32 PM local time, a Boeing 737-300ER landed at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, signaling a significant moment for both Emirates and Nigerian travelers. In a symbolic gesture, Capt. Madugu was in the cockpit for this momentous flight.

Madugu shared his excitement on social media, posting a video of the landing with the caption: “A great plane spotter got my landing into Lagos today. Landed off an RNAV approach today as the ILS was on test. Watching this video you’ll realize the amount of work the Emirates training department does on their pilots. Alhamdulillah.” He also expressed his pride in operating the inaugural return flight to Lagos, stating, “A very special day for me today, I have the honor of operating our inaugural return flight to Lagos, Nigeria 🇳🇬 @LOSairport . Today I’ll be flying both the Emirates and Nigerian flag very high 🇦🇪 🇳🇬 ! Thank you, Emirates. A flight time of slightly over 8 hours today. #EkoOniBaje.”

Interestingly, Capt. Madugu previously spoke with Daily Trust in 2016 while working with Azman Airline, where he held the distinction of being the youngest captain in Nigeria’s airline industry. Born on September 21, 1996, in Kano, he is the son of Alhaji Sani Madugu. His passion for aviation ignited at a young age after visiting an aircraft cockpit during a flight to Kano for Sallah celebrations.

“It all started a very long time ago. When I was between six and seven years, we were flying to Kano for Sallah, as we usually do every Sallah. We got to Kano, and my father took me to the cockpit of the aircraft. I think he knew the pilot or something, and I was amazed seeing the cockpit. That day, going into the cockpit really blew my mind,” he recalled during the interview.

Capt. Madugu’s journey in aviation began with a desire sparked during that childhood encounter. He attended several schools, including Corona School in Apapa, Lagos, Laurel International School at FESTAC Town, Lagos, and the Nigerian Turkish International College before pursuing pilot training abroad.