UAE lifts travel ban on Nigeria; others as Emirates resume flight June 23

AFTER months of stalemated negotiations with Nigeria, the United Arab Emirates ( UAE) has lifted its travel ban on Nigeria as well as India and South Africa.

This is just as Emirate  Airline, the Dubai- based carrier has announced that it would recommence flights into Nigeria June 23, 2021.

A directive from the Dubai Media Office said passengers from Nigeria are expected to have received a negative result for a PCR test taken within 48 hours before departure.

Passengers are also expected to present a negative PCR test certificate with a QR code from laboratories approved by the Nigerian government, while also undergoing same test upon arrival at the Dubai airport.

On February 1, 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.

However, the Nigerian government reintroduced the ban on March 15, saying the airline rescinded on the agreement.

On March 25, 2021, the UAE embassy in Abuja announced new COVID-19 travel protocols for Nigeria as measures to curtail the spread of coronavirus in the country, passengers who have been in or transited through South Africa or Nigeria in the last 14 days before travelling to Dubai were barred from entering Dubai

Meanwhile, Emirates airline in its announcement expressed joy at the latest protocols that saw yours resumption in Nigeria from June 23rd.

The airline in a statement said it welcomes the latest protocols and measures announced by Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management to allow the safe resumption of passenger travel from South Africa, Nigeria and India to Dubai.

“We look forward to facilitating travel from these countries and supporting various travelers’ categories. We will resume carrying passengers from South Africa, Nigeria and India in accordance with these protocols from 23rd June.

“We thank the Supreme Committee for their continuous efforts in monitoring the development of the situation and announcing the appropriate guidelines and protocols to protect the community and safeguard travel sector.”