There is an indication and high hope that flight operations would soon resume between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates.
The Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Musa Nuhu, disclosed on Monday that Emirates would soon resume flight operations between Nigeria and the Gulf state.
According to him, "Emirates airline has met some of our requirements, and we are just waiting for one confirmation."
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) national carrier, Emirate airline was suspended from operating flights to Nigeria by the Nigerian government in March after the carrier insisted on carrying out Rapid Antigen Tests for passengers prior to departure from Nigeria despite the government’s opposition.
The airline also required all passengers to give evidence of a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test within 72-hours of leaving in July 2020.
Passengers arriving from other countries need to take a second PCR test in Dubai before being allowed to depart from the airport.
Since the suspension of Emirates Airlines from the country, the UAE government also banned other airlines from airlifting passengers from Nigeria to the UAE.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has reconsidered its decision and may allow the reopening of flight operations between the two countries.
Nuhu said they were discussing with the Emirates airline While speaking during a Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) about COVID-19.
“As regards the issue of Emirates Airline resumption of flight to Nigeria, the PSC planned highly on this matter, and the gap has been significantly closed between the position of Nigeria and the United Arab Emirate (UAE).
“They have met some of our requirements, and we are just waiting for one confirmation,” Nuhu said.
The resumption of the Emirates Airline may also open the door for other airlines that operate flights between Nigeria and the UAE as part of the conditions given to the Emirates.
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