File Photo
EKO HOT BLOG reports that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has replied to the Federal Government of Nigeria over the reason it suspended flights to Dubai in the past four months.
It would be recalled that the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, had during a briefing by the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 described the protocol introduced by the UAE as discriminatory, saying it was targeted at only Nigerians.
The minister had made the remarks against the backdrop of the controversy trailing the suspension of flights between Nigeria and UAE, which has been one of the most lucrative routes for airlines and Nigerian travel agents.
EKO HOT BLOG further recalls that UAE had introduced a rapid antigen test in addition to the negative PCR test stipulated by the Federal Government (FG), which was however rejected by Nigeria.
There was confusion recently when the UAE lifted the ban and Emirates Airlines announced the resumption of flights to Nigeria but less than 24 hours later, the ban was restored.
READ ALSO: FG Gives Reasons Why UAE Banned Flights From Nigeria To Dubai
However, the UAE civil aviation authority (GCAA) via a statement posted on the country’s news agency website on Sunday night denied targeting Nigeria or any particular airline in the measures taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The civil aviation authority stated that it was committed to upholding the highest standards of public health and safety, noting that the UAE took a number of difficult but necessary decisions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to protect the health of people living in the country.
The UAE GCAA further stated that at no point has the UAE ever given certain airlines exemption from these measures.
FILE – In this Tuesday, April 7, 2020 file photo, U.S. citizens queue to check-in and be repatriated aboard an evacuation flight arranged by the U.S. embassy and chartered with Delta Air Lines, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, Nigeria. African nations face a difficult choice as infections are rapidly rising: Welcome the international flights that originally brought COVID-19 to the ill-prepared continent, or further hurt their economies. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba, File)
UAE added that the restriction placed on different countries came up “after reviewing the prevalence of concerning variants, the number of passengers arriving from each country who subsequently test positive for COVID-19, and the integrity of domestic testing facilities.”
According to the UAE civil aviation authority, the list of countries is subject to regular review and change.
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