Nigeria/UAE flight row: Emiratis ban, unban airlines from flying Nigerians through it

IN the last 24 hours a lot has happened in the imbroglio between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following flight restrictions by both countries,the latest being that the latter country has rescinded its order for airlines not to airlift Nigerian passengers through the UAE.

As at Monday morning, it was reported that the United Arab Emir­ates (UAE) stopped in­ternational carriers from airlift­ing Nigerians to Dubai or any of its seven Emirates.

However,it seems there are indica­tions that the UAE government may have rescinded its decision against Nigerian travellers as some of the international carri­ers earlier stopped from board­ing passengers with Nigerians passport but information has it that they (airlines) would continue airlifting of Nigerian passen­gers from today (Tuesday).

A circular allegedly emanating from the UAE had read: ‘Dubai Travel Restriction Up­date,’ dated December 13, 2021 with the reference number: PSA 12/068/2021, directed car­riers not to airlift Nigerians and citizens of the Congo Democrat­ic Republic only from Africa.

The circular said: “Due to an increasing number of COVID Positive passengers at destina­tion, it is decided to suspend accepting passengers to U.A.E from Nigeria and Congo DRC (FIH) only.

“This is effective today, 13th December, 2021. Please ensure 100% compliance.”

As at Monday morning, information filtered in that some Nigerian passengers were de-boarded from Ethiopian Airlines Abuja flights based on the above circular which allegedly emanated from UAE to all international airlines .

It was stated that any Nigerian passenger whose final destination was the UAE was de boarded but this seem to have been rescinded as NigerianFLIGHTDECK learnt that airlines would resume boarding Nigerians to UAE as from today.