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(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Federal Government of Nigeria on Friday, suspended the flight operations of Emirates from Lagos and Abuja over violation of COVID-19 protocols.
The message conveying the suspension was sent to the United Arab Emirates carrier through the industry regulator: Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
A letter signed by NCAA’s Director General, Captain Musa Nuhu and dated February 4, 2020 with reference number NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/285, addressed to the Country Manager of Emirates Airlines in Nigeria, stated that the airline has violated the protocols set by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.
It added that the airline ‘has continued to airlift passengers from Nigeria using the Rapid Antigen Test (RDT) conducted by laboratories that are neither approved nor authorized by the appropriate regulatory bodies’.
(FILES) File picture dated August 1, 2008 shows an Emirates Airline flight from Dubai landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. Dubai-based airline Emirates announced on September 8, 2008 that it is suspending flights using its lone Airbus A380 superjumbo until later this week while repairs are carried out. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)
Chinedu Eze
The Federal Government yesterday lifted the suspension slammed on Emirates Airlines from operating outbound flights from Nigeria (Lagos and Abuja) for 72 hours, effective Thursday February 4, 2021, after the airline agreed to withdraw the COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Testing (RDT) for Nigerian passengers prior to the departure.
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The Federal Government has lifted the ban it earlier placed on Emirates Airlines.
This is coming after the United Arab Emirates granted the carrier permission to withdraw the Rapid Antigen Testing done prior to the departure of Emirates flights from Nigeria, according to a letter by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
Due to the development, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 directed the immediate lifting of the suspension placed on the operations of Emirates Airlines in Nigeria.
The letter signed by the Director-General of NCAA, Capt. Musa Nuhu expected the airline to comply with the directives by the PTF on COVID-19 and other protocols of the Federal Government of Nigeria.