The flight from Nigeria to the United Arab Emirates has not resumed due of the discriminatory nature of the protocol introduced by Emirates, the Federal Government said on Monday.
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika in Abuja during the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 briefing said the protocol appears to be targeted at only Nigerians as it was discriminatory and not backed up scientifically.
He also said that Dubai is insisting that all passengers intending to visit its country must use Emirates Airline or spend two weeks in the alternative carrier’s country before gaining entrance to Dubai.
He, however, said talks were ongoing to resolve the matter.
“Emirates in particular and other airlines including KLM gave us some conditions that were not acceptable to us because they don’t make scientific sense. After review, some of the airlines, especially KLM, saw sense with what Nigeria presented which is that you can do the test 48 to 72 hours before you leave and do another test on arrival.
“Emirates at that time wanted us to do the test 48 hours before boarding and 48 hours is not yet the incubation time yet and they expect us to do a rapid test at the airport and then fly seven hours later and do another test in Dubai and then follow us to our hotel or our accommodation and do another test.
“We accepted what Emirates presented and proceeded even though KLM and other airlines saw our reasons and rationale and towed the lines of Nigeria. In this case, Emirates insisted again that in addition to the test on arrival and other tests, that Nigerians cannot fly to UAE except through Emirates airlines and that if we choose to do so through other airlines like Ethiopia, Qatar, Turkish or other airlines, we must remain in the country of that airline for two weeks if you are a Nigerian before we continue to Dubai,” Sirika said.