United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reportedly issued a directive to all international air carriers to stop airlifting Nigerian travellers to the Arab nation.
It was gathered that many Nigerian passengers hoping to travel to Dubai were denied entry by airlines on Monday.
Although the UAE was said to have given the directive over COVID-19 fears, many believed that the development might not be unconnected with the ongoing aviation row between the two countries. UAE was said to have claimed that scores of Nigerians who entered the country in the past weeks tested positive to COVID-19.
Information gathered indicated that Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish Air and other international airlines going to Dubai from their bases refused to board Nigerians whose final destination is the UAE.
A source familiar with the development was quoted by THISDAY to have said many Nigerian passengers were stopped from boarding flights to UAE on Monday.
“Today they have to offload Dubai passengers. So no airline wants to carry Nigerian passengers to Dubai. They said Nigerians are testing positive to COVID-19; that is why some airlines are not carrying them. It is just like they did the last time,” the source was quoted as saying.
Recall that the aviation row between UAE and Nigeria began about ten months ago, when Nigeria decided to suspend the activities of Emirates Airline in the country over some COVID-19 protocols.
In November, all seems to have been settled between the two countries following the announcement of the suspension of the ban placed on Emirates Airline by Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika.
However, in a twist, the Federal Government last week withdrew its approval for Emirates Airline winter schedule, cutting down the carrier’s daily flights to Abuja to just once a week.
In an retaliatory move, the Emirates also announced the suspension of all flights to Nigeria.
