FG places 72 hour ban on Emirates from Nigeria over flouting COVID-19 Protocols
FEDERAL Government through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has placed a 72-hour suspension on outbound United Arab Emirates (UAE) carrier, Emirates flights from Nigeria following violations of guidelines put in place by the presidential taskforce on COVID-19. UAE restricts other carriers from airlifting Nigerian passengers to Dubai Airport
During the 72 hours leeway, Emirates airlines is only authorized, according to the CAA, to bring passengers into Nigeria while outbound airlift of passengers are not allowed.
A circular dated February 4 signed by the Director General, NCAA Captain Musa Nuhu read:
“This is a violation of paragraph 5 of the NCAA letter with REF: NCAA/DG/AIR11/16/281 of 02 February 2021 addressed to your good self. The paragraph clearly states:
“Based on the foregoing and to enable the Nigerian government to put in place the needed infrastructure and logistics for COVID-19 RDT testing for departing passengers, the PTF has directed that Emirates Airlines should either accept passengers without RDT pending when the infrastructure and logistics are put in place or suspend its flights to and from Nigeria until such a time when the required infrastructure and logistics are fully established and implemented”. FG rescinds approval to Emirates Airlines, UAE carrier’s restriction takes effect from Monday Sept 21
“Emirates Airlines has not been in compliance with the two options given by the PTF as records obtained from Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) indicates that Emirates Airlines operated the flights from both Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja” the circular read.
“This is in addition to an advert by Emirates airlines for RDT by the Travel clinic and medical Mobile Laboratory in Lagos and Abuja, two organizations that are not approved by the regulatory bodies and PTF to conduct RDT for departing passengers”.
He stated that the PTF takes these violations of its instructions seriously and as therefore directed that “Emirates should suspend its operations to Nigeria (Lagos and Abuja) effective 72 hours from midnight (2300z) on Thursday 04 February, 2021”. UAE writes Nigeria over visa issuance as FG sets to reinstate Emirates approval
“During the 72-hour leeway, Emirates Airlines is only authorized to bring passengers into Nigeria. Outbound passengers are not authorized.”
The ban is communicated in a letter dated 04 February, 2021 to the country Manager of emirates airlines also copied the Chairman PTF, Minister of Aviation and the Minister of Health.
Others are National Coordinator PTF, Director General, UAE, General Civil Aviation Authority, MD NAMA and MD FAAN.
