We reported that there is a talk going on between Nigeria and United Arab Emirates regulators and authorities over the flight suspension. Emirates Airlines also confirmed that they are negotiating with Nigeria government authorities on the flight ban as they promised to resolve the issues raised as soon as possible.
According to the Tribune, The Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 (PTF), Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will on Monday, March 22, 2021, discuss how to resolve the flight suspension between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates.
For the past one month, talks have been going on between the Nigeria authorities and the United Arab Emirates over the coronavirus test requirements before passengers from Nigerian will be allowed to enter the UAE.
General Civil Aviation Authority of the United Arab Emirates listed a valid PCR negative test certificate, a negative rapid test result of COVID-19 at the Nigeria airports (4 hours test before departure test) and a retest on arrival in UAE airports as a condition before passengers from Nigeria will be allowed to enter the Arab country.
Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, during the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 (PTF) briefing, rejected the conditions listed by the General Civil Aviation Authority of the United Arab Emirates. Sirika noted that the conditions were discriminatory and devoid of scientific reasons.
“So, it sounds not correct to take a PCR test within 72hours and take a rapid test before the flight and seven hours later, another test on arrival,” the minister stated.
KLM accepted the negative PCR test certificate without the pre-boarding rapid diagnostic test (RTDs) at the airport and they have been allowed to resumed outbound flights from Lagos on March 15, 2021.
We are monitoring the Nigeria – United Arab Emirates flight ban situation. You can contact us for more update.