The federal government of Nigeria has threatened to ban flights from the United Arab Emirates and the Netherlands as a reciprocal action.
The FG through the Presidential Task Force (PTF) says the Ministry of Aviation and its relevant agencies have been mandated to take the necessary reciprocal measures against Emirates airlines operating from the UAE and other airlines from the Netherlands to Nigeria.
The PTF Chairman, Boss Mustapha disclosed this during the routine briefing of the committee in Abuja earlier this week. He said, "For over a month, Nigeria has been engaged with the authorities of the UAE and the Netherlands over pre-departure testing requirements passengers should meet before traveling from Nigeria."
The PTF has mandated the Ministry of Aviation and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, to take necessary reciprocal measures as may be permissible under the laws and other international obligations which we are expected to discharge. Mustapha said.
According to the reports, the Nigerian government temporarily banned Emirates airlines last February due to the violation of the Covid-19 guidelines issued by the PTF. The airline was airlifting passengers that had rapid antigen COVID test certificates issued by laboratories not approved by the authorities.
UAE and The Netherlands face sanctions again for airlifting passengers out of Nigeria again because the airlines had been using rapid COVID-19 tests on customers before they were allowed to board flights.
Passengers traveling out of Nigeria are already required to take a COVID-19 test within 72-hours of departure and a second on arrival at their destinations.
Emirates airline has however failed to heed the authorities' request by pressing ahead with its pre-flight rapid testing requirement which is not approved by the Nigerian government.
Share this:
Post a Comment