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Report reaching us is that Covid 19 PresidentialTask Force has forced a 72 hours ban on Emirates Airlines from airlifting passengers from Nigeria.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!According to the circular signed by Musa Nuhu, NCAA director-general, the airline has been airlifting passengers from Nigeria using rapid antigen tests conducted by laboratories not approved by regulatory authorities.
In the circular, Emirates Airlines violated the 5th paragraph of the NCAA letter with ref NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/285 of February 2nd 2021 addressed to airlines which stated
“Based on the foregoing and to enable the Nigerian government to put in place the needed infrastructure and logistics for COVID-19 RDT testing for departing passengers, the PTF has directed that Emirates Airlines should either accept passengers without RDT pending when the infrastructure and logistics are put in place or suspend its flights to and from Nigeria until such a time when the required infrastructure and logistics are fully established and implemented”.
“Emirates Airlines has not complied with the two options given by the PTF as records obtained from Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) indicates that Emirates Airlines operated the flights from both Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja” the circular read.
“Emirates should suspend its operations to Nigeria (Lagos and Abuja) effective 72 hours from midnight on Thursday, February 4, 2021.
“During the 72-hour leeway, Emirates Airlines is only authorised to bring passengers into Nigeria. Outbound passengers are not authorised.”
The NCAA further stated that there would be additional sanctions on Emirates Airlines for the violation of the novel virus protocols.
See the circular below
