What a pity...
If Arik could manage with Gatwick, what a difference that would make. Only Heathrow will do, though, and nobody else will just sort of give them some slots so that this must be British treachery undoing a noble Nigerian entrepreneur.
I guess nobody told this fellow, head of Nigeria's only international carrier, that there might be a problem getting Heathrow slots, when this must have come as a complete surprise to him.
If Gatwick is totally unacceptable then Arik's chairman might want to look into asking for approval for his new 747-800 to use London City Airport, just minutes away from downtown. I think LCY's a bit cramped for the A380 but the 747-800 might fit. Anyway, it never hurts to ask.