The federal government has announced the possible resumption of flights between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Recall flights between both countries were suspended in March over issues relating to Covid-19 protocol.
In February, Emirates directed Nigerian travelers at the Lagos and Abuja airports to conduct rapid Covid-19 tests before departure, which led to a ban on Emirates flights in Nigeria.
The ban was later lifted after the airline agreed to stop the rapid antigen tests.
In a twist in March, the federal government reintroduced the ban, explaining that Emirates had continued to conduct rapid antigen tests for passengers before departure from Nigeria.
Speaking at a media briefing on Monday, 15 November, Mukhtar Muhammad, the national incident manager of the presidential steering committee on Covid-19, said that both countries have agreed on the reviewed travel guidelines and conditions imposed by the UAE government.
He went on to explain that the federal government has succumbed to the Covid-19 testing requirement earlier imposed by the UAE government in March 2021 to maintain harmony.
On the resumption of Emirates Airline’s flights to Nigeria, he said there had been extensive deliberation on the matter between the federal government and the UAE.
“They have met some of our requirements, and we are just waiting for one confirmation,” NAN quoted Muhammad as saying.
Also speaking at the briefing, Musa Nuhu, director-general of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), said Emirates Airline would soon resume its flight operations in and out of Nigeria.
Nuhu said that there were still ongoing discussions with the airline.
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