UAE suspends rapid tests, FG lifts ban on Emirates

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 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 TaskForce directed the immediate lifting of the suspension of Emirates airlines operations in Nigeria.

The letter signed by the Director-General of NCAA, Capt. Musa Nuhu expected the airline to comply with the directives by the PTD on COVID-19 and other protocols of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“Emirates airlines will be duly informed of ongoing enforcement actions by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority with regards to the established non-compliances to PTF directives and protocols as enumerated in our letter of February 4, 2021,” the letter read.

Similarly, the airline expressed its desire to continue flying to Nigeria as it thanked the authorities for their support.

It read, “Emirates can confirm that we will continue to operate services to Abuja and Lagos. We are strongly committed to Nigeria and would like to thank the local authorities for their trust and support. We look forward to continuing to safely connect our customers, and meet air travel demand from Nigeria to and through Dubai to Emirates’ global network.”

The foreign carrier was earlier banned for airlifting passengers from Nigeria using Rapid Antigen Tests conducted by laboratories that are neither approved nor authorized by the appropriate regulatory bodies.

It also failed to comply with the two options given by the PTF to the airline, according to records obtained by the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency

Similarly, it accused the foreign carrier of advertising two centers not approved for coronavirus rapid testing, identified as Travel Clinic and Medicaid Mobile Laboratory.