Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.(NCAA) said it has life the suspension earlier placed on the operations of Emirates Airlines in Nigeria with immediate effect.
The lifting of the suspension on the operation came after Emirate Airlines’ compliance with the directives of the Federal government’ that the airline must stop the mandatory departure Rapid Antigen Test (RDT) earlier requested for its Nigerian passengers to Dubai.
A press statement signed by the Director General of NCAA, Capt Nuhu Musa on the development said the lifting of suspension on the operation of Emirates airlines in Nigeria said the airline approached NCAA in writing that the UAE Government has given it approval to suspend the pre-departure RDT requirement for passengers travelling on their flight to Dubai.
The statement which read in parts, stated: “The Public is hereby notified of the immediate lifting of the suspension placed on Emirates airlines operations in Nigeria.”
Nuhu explained, “The Presidential Task Force (PTF) of COVID-19 was made aware of the requirement by Emirates airlines and KLM for passengers travelling from Nigeria on their flights to Dubai and Amsterdam to undergo a Rapid Antigen Test (RDT) Four (4) hours from the time of flights departure.
“This requirement is in addition to the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test done 72 hours from the date of departure by passengers.
The implementation of the additional requirement by the Two (2) airlines was commenced without the prior notification or approval of the PTF and other regulatory bodies in Nigeria. ”
This led to the provision of RDT testing by organizations and Laboratories that have not been approved by the PTF and other Regulatory agencies for RDTat or around our international airports in Lagos and Abuja.,”
He added, “The PTF, upon review of the situation directed the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to inform the airlines to either suspend the requirement for pre-departure RDT or their flights to the country until such a time when the required infrastructure and logistics have been put in place for RDT by the Government.
Emirates Airlines however continued their operations requiring passengers to carry out the RDT test Six (6) hours from the time-of-flight departure from Nigeria.”
“The PTF therefore directed for the immediate suspension of Emirates Airlines operations to Nigeria effective February 4, 2021 until when the needed infrastructure and logistics are put in place for the RDT test by the Nigerian Government.
Emirates Airlines on February 5, 2021 informed the NCAA in writing that the UAE Government has given the airline approval to suspend the pre-departure RDT requirement for passengers travelling on their flight to Dubai.,” Musa said.
Consequent upon the foregoing, the PTF directed the NCAA to lift the suspension placed on Emirates Airlines flights into Nigeria with effective from 5th February 5, 2021.
The Director General therefore informed the public that. Emirates Airlines no longer requires passengers to carry out pre-departure RDT, No laboratory has been approved by the PTF and other regulatory agencies to carry out RDT for incoming or departing passengers and PTF will inform all Nigerians of any change(s) to the above.
