UAE Lifts Ban On Nigerian Travellers To Dubai
The restriction on international airlines transporting Nigerian travelers into the country has been lifted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Egypt Air, Air France, KLM, Ethiopian Airlines, Rwanda Air, Etihad, and Lufthansa were previously barred from transporting Nigerians to Dubai by UAE officials.
It was found that the move was a punitive measure against Nigeria for denying Emirates airline access to certain frequencies.
On the direction of UAE officials, many Nigerian passengers who had boarded Ethiopian Airlines bound for Dubai were told to disembark.
The UAE government has issued a fresh instruction, reversing its previous decision and requesting that foreign airlines begin allowing passengers from Nigeria.
A source within Ethiopian Airline told Daily Sun that: “The excuse from Dubai was that they had gotten 37 positive covid cases, so they had to take measures to restrict movement. But not long after the directive to bar passengers was issued, they reversed themselves and are now accepting passengers from Nigeria.”
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority recently restricted Emirates’ ability to conduct 21 weekly flights to Nigeria (NCAA).
Instead, in retaliation for the Sharjah Airport Authorities denying Air Peace the three slots it asked, the government handed Emirates one weekly slot in Abuja.
As a result of the Nigerian government’s efforts to restrict its flight operations, Emirates Airline has suspended its flights between Dubai and Nigeria.
The airline stated that it will resume operations if the Nigerian government and UAE officials reach an agreement to end the standoff.
