Despite resolutions between Middle East carrier, Emirates Airline and Nigerian government on the conduction of Rapid Antigen Test on air travellers in the country, the airline has opted to operate a one way flight operation from its base in Dubai airport to the West African country, banning all passenger departures originating from Nigeria until 28 February.
It said the decision includes, all passengers travelling to Dubai who have travelled to and/ or visited Nigeria within fourteen (14) days prior to their entry in to the UAE.
The airline stated that the measures taken does not apply to UAE Nationals and the decision does not apply to freighter operations and outbound passengers travelling from UAE airports, to Nigeria.
Recall, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government suspended the pre-departure Rapid Antigen Test (RDT), which was the major issue that led to the ban instituted by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19 to direct the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to ban all Emirates Airline airlifting of Lagos and Abuja Passengers for 72 hours.
However, after the UAE stopped the pre RDT tests, the PTF directed the NCAA to lift the suspension placed on Emirates Airlines flights into Nigeria with effective from 5th February 2021.
The statement read, “The Public is hereby notified of the immediate lifting of the suspension placed on Emirates airlines operations in Nigeria.
“Emirates Airlines on 5th February 2021 informed the NCAA in writing that the UAE Government has given the airline approval to suspend the pre-departure RDT requirement for passengers travelling on their flight to Dubai.
“Consequent upon the foregoing, the PTF directed the NCAA to lift the suspension placed on Emirates Airlines flights into Nigeria with effective from 5th February 2021.
“The Public is hereby informed as follows: Emirates Airlines no longer requires passengers to carry out pre-departure RDT.
This information now seems moot as the airline has announced the suspension of inbound airlifting of Nigerian passengers.
