BRITAIN blocked Nigeria Airways from launching a new Lagos-London service at the last minute because the airline had leased an aircraft from Djibouti, which does not meet international safety standards, officials said on Thursday. The Nigerian carrier was poised to starts flights on the lucrative route with an aircraft and crew leased from Air Djibouti, having already secured all necessary permits from British aviation authorities. But a recent international aviation report that raised questions about aviation safety standards in Djibouti prompted 11th-hour action from Britain’s transport department. According to Nigerian press reports, the ban prompted angry scenes at Lagos airport where passengers had already been sold tickets for the inaugural Lagos-London flight – AFP