The federal government has asked authorities of the United
Arab Emirates (UAE) to remove its discriminatory travel protocol put in place
against Nigeria in the wake of the resurgence of COVID-19 pandemic.
Boss Mustapha, chairman of the presidential task force (PTF)
and secretary to the government of the federation, said this during the
presidential steering committee (PSC) press briefing in Abuja on Monday.
On February 1, 2021, Emirates Airline had directed that
Nigerian travellers at the Lagos and Abuja airports must conduct rapid COVID-19
tests before departure. This led to a ban on Emirates flights in Nigeria.
The ban was lifted after the airline agreed to stop the
rapid antigen tests. But the federal government reintroduced the ban on March
15, explaining that Emirates had continued to conduct rapid antigen tests for
passengers before departure from Nigeria..
On March 25, 2021, the UAE embassy in Abuja announced a new
COVID-19 travel protocols for Nigeria as measures to curtail the spread of
coronavirus in the country.
Speaking during the press briefing, Mustapha said the FG is
currently in talks with its UAE counterpart on the possibility of resuming
reciprocal international flights.
“For some time now Nigeria has been discussing with the
authorities of the UAE, Emirates on the resumption of flights between the two
countries.
“The PSC will urge
the United Arab Emirates to remove the country-specific and discriminatory
practices against Nigeria. Discussions are however ongoing and we can assure
Nigerians that the outcome will be in the interest of the country.”
Checks by TheCable on the Emirates website on rules for
travelling to Dubai shows that passengers are not allowed “to enter Dubai if
you have been in or transited through South Africa or Nigeria in the last 14
days before travelling to Dubai.”
“This is not applicable for UAE nationals who are returning
to the UAE and members of diplomatic missions. Members of diplomatic missions
travelling from Nigeria must present a negative COVID‑19 PCR test
certificate from one of the authorised laboratories in Nigeria.”
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