By Valentine Amanze, Online Editor
Nigerian government has suspended the operations of Emirates airline following the carrier’s imposition of additional coronavirus (COVID-19) test requirements on passengers from the country.
The Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, disclosed this, while reacting to the airline’s action last week.
Emirates said last week that passenger flights to and from Nigeria had been suspended until further notice in line with government directives, but did not give details.
The minister said that the airline had demanded passengers from Nigeria undertake three COVID-19 tests within 24 hours, leading the government to suspend its operations, with the exemption of cargo and humanitarian flights.
“To make us go through three tests within 24 hours does not make sense. Since they insist, their operations remain suspended,” Sirika said.
Last month Nigeria lifted a suspension of Emirates airlines flights imposed after the carrier sought additional COVID-19 tests for passengers from Nigeria.
Besides requiring a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test before flying from Nigeria, the airline added an extra requirement of having a rapid test four hours before departure. The minister also disclosed that Dutch airline, KLM, has commenced flights in and out of Nigeria.
