Confusion As Emirates Says Nigerian Flights Remain Suspended

Emirates’ flights to and from Nigeria will remain suspended
until 15 August 2021, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) carrier, has
said.

This negates the earlier announcement by the UAE authorities,
which announced a lift of the ban on Nigerian effect with effect
from Thursday.

In a travel update posted on its website, Emirates said the
suspension is “in line with government directives that restrict the
entry of travellers originating from Nigeria into the UAE.”

“Customers who have been to or connected through Nigeria in the
last 14 days will not be permitted on any Emirates flights bound
for Dubai,” the airline further said.

Daily Trust reports that the UAE authorities had said effective
5 August 2021, eligible travellers from Nigeria and 10 other
countries will be allowed to travel to/through the UAE.

The countries are India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Vietnam,
South Africa, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Nepal.

Daily Trust reports that since March this year, scheduled
flights between Nigeria and the UAE have been stopped following
diplomatic row over Covid-19 protocols.

While the Federal Government stipulates negative PCR test as a
requirement for travellers to Dubai, the UAE further imposed rapid
antigen test as another condition for visitors to Dubai; the
development which the Nigerian government rejected and on the basis
of which banned the UAE flag carrier, Emirates, from coming to
Nigeria.

On Saturday June 19, Emirates announced resumption of flights by
June 23 following the lifting of travel ban on Nigeria and other
countries by the Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster
Management which also removed the rapid antigen test and said
passengers from Nigeria would only be required to possess negative
PCR test.

But 48 hours after the UAE authorities made a u-turn and
reinstated the flight ban.

In response to the allegation by the Federal Government that the
UAE protocols were discriminatory against Nigeria, the UAE General
Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) denied targeting Nigeria or any
particular airline in the measures taken in response to the
COVID-19 pandemic, saying it was committed to upholding the highest
standards of public health and safety.

Following Tuesday’s announcement by Emirates, travel agents have
vowed to stay action on Dubai tickets until they get clear
communication from the airline.

President of the National Association of Nigerian Travel
Agencies (NANTA), Mrs. Susan Akporiaye said, “We are waiting for
further directive because we are tired of all this. This has
happened over and over again. For us in the travel community, until
we get a communication from the airline, we will not take any
action because this has happened more than once and our members
went ahead to issue ticket and did so many things and before you
know it, they brought up another one.

“So we have decided, going forward, until we get a communication
from the airline, we will not take any further action.”

Emirates’ flights to and from Nigeria will remain suspended
until 15 August 2021, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) carrier, has
said.

This negates the earlier announcement by the UAE authorities,
which announced a lift of the ban on Nigerian effect with effect
from Thursday.

In a travel update posted on its website, Emirates said the
suspension is “in line with government directives that restrict the
entry of travellers originating from Nigeria into the UAE.”

“Customers who have been to or connected through Nigeria in the
last 14 days will not be permitted on any Emirates flights bound
for Dubai,” the airline further said.

Daily Trust reports that the UAE authorities had said effective
5 August 2021, eligible travellers from Nigeria and 10 other
countries will be allowed to travel to/through the UAE.

The countries are India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Vietnam,
South Africa, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Nepal.

Daily Trust reports that since March this year, scheduled
flights between Nigeria and the UAE have been stopped following
diplomatic row over Covid-19 protocols.

While the Federal Government stipulates negative PCR test as a
requirement for travellers to Dubai, the UAE further imposed rapid
antigen test as another condition for visitors to Dubai; the
development which the Nigerian government rejected and on the basis
of which banned the UAE flag carrier, Emirates, from coming to
Nigeria.

On Saturday June 19, Emirates announced resumption of flights by
June 23 following the lifting of travel ban on Nigeria and other
countries by the Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster
Management which also removed the rapid antigen test and said
passengers from Nigeria would only be required to possess negative
PCR test.

But 48 hours after the UAE authorities made a u-turn and
reinstated the flight ban.

In response to the allegation by the Federal Government that the
UAE protocols were discriminatory against Nigeria, the UAE General
Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) denied targeting Nigeria or any
particular airline in the measures taken in response to the
COVID-19 pandemic, saying it was committed to upholding the highest
standards of public health and safety.

Following Tuesday’s announcement by Emirates, travel agents have
vowed to stay action on Dubai tickets until they get clear
communication from the airline.

President of the National Association of Nigerian Travel
Agencies (NANTA), Mrs. Susan Akporiaye said, “We are waiting for
further directive because we are tired of all this. This has
happened over and over again. For us in the travel community, until
we get a communication from the airline, we will not take any
action because this has happened more than once and our members
went ahead to issue ticket and did so many things and before you
know it, they brought up another one.

“So we have decided, going forward, until we get a communication
from the airline, we will not take any further action.”