By Abba Gwale
Dubai-based carrier Emirates has temporarily suspended services from Nigeria (Lagos and Abuja) to Dubai until February 28, 2021.
However, Emirates flights from Dubai to Lagos and Abuja will continue to operate as per the normal schedule.
Passengers who have been to or connected through Nigeria in the last 14 days are not allowed entry into the UAE (whether terminating in or connecting through Dubai).
In a statement on its website, it said that the decision was “in line with government directives” without adding any further details. It is not clear whether it was a retaliatory suspension.
It can be recalled that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had issued a 72-hour suspension, and then subsequently lifted the ban a few hours later, on Emirates operating flights from Lagos and Abuja.
The NCAA had objected to Emirates requiring passengers flying from Nigeria to undergo a rapid antigen test at the airport four hours before departure administered by laboratories that it said were not approved by Nigerian authorities.
In addition, all passengers departing from Nigeria are already required to present a negative Covid-19 PCR test, not older than 72 hours, to be accepted onto Emirates flights.
Emirates flights to another African nation, South Africa, will also remain suspended until February 28, 2021, in line with recent government directives that restrict the entry of travellers originating from South Africa, into the UAE.
Besides, Nigeria and South Africa, the airline has said on Tuesday that passenger services from Sao Paulo to Dubai too will also remain suspended until February 28, 2021. However, passenger services from Dubai to Sao Paulo will resume from February 11 aboard flight EK 261.
Meanwhile the management of Air Peace revealed that the company has stopped airlifting of Nigerians from Nigeria to UAE as part of its COVID-19 measures.
The company has, however, said the flights of bringing Nigerias from Dubai are not affected by the new announcement also air peace flight from UAE (Sharjah-Dubai) to Lagos is not affected.
Normal flight across the country will resume when the restriction is lifted on 28th February 2021.
