Nigeria Airways has resumed flights from Lagos to London, which were suspended eight months ago because of operational and financial difficulties.

Flights were due to have resumed in August but British aviation authorities withdrew their approval over concerns about the safety of aircraft leased by the Nigerian carrier.

The dispute resulted in the dismissal of the airline's chief executive for fraud.

A senior Nigerian aviation official was also dismissed.

Britain first barred Nigeria Airways in 1997, alleging that its aircraft were not insured.

The ban was lifted in 1998, but the carrier could no longer service the route because of large debts.

It ran a service under a joint venture with British Airways from late 1998 until March this year.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service