The Nigerian Government has lifted the suspension earlier placed on Emirates Airline flights in the country.
The development was contained in a statement made available on Friday night by the NCAA’s Director-General, Capt. Musa S. Nuhu.
The DG recalled that the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 was made aware of the requirements by Emirates airline and KLM for passengers travelling from Nigeria on their flights to Dubai and Amsterdam.
Nuhu noted that they were to undergo an RDT four hours from the time of flight departure.
READ ALSO: Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Re-opens Amidst Strict COVID-19 Safety Protocols
“This requirement is in addition to the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test done 72 hours from the date of departure by passengers.
“The implementation of the additional requirement by the two airlines was commenced without the prior notification or approval of the PTF and other regulatory bodies in the country.
“This led to the provision of RDT testing by organisations and laboratories that have not been approved by the PTF and other regulatory agencies for RDT at or around our international airports in Lagos and Abuja.
“Until such a time when the required infrastructure and logistics have been put in place for RDT by the government.”
READ ALSO: FG Postpones Resumption Of International Flights
However, Emirates Airline continued its operations requiring passengers to carry out the RDT test six hours from the time-of-flight departure from the country.
Nuhu said Emirates Airline on Feb. 5 informed the NCAA in writing that the UAE government had given the airline approval to suspend the pre-departure RDT requirement for passengers travelling on their flight to Dubai.
“Consequent upon the foregoing, the PTF directed the NCAA to lift the suspension placed on Emirates Airline flights into Nigeria with effective from Feb. 5.
“The public is hereby informed as follows: Emirates Airlines no longer requires passengers to carry out pre-departure RDT.
“No laboratory has been approved by the PTF and other regulatory agencies to carry out RDT for incoming or departing passengers.
“The PTF will inform all Nigerians of any change(s) to the above,” he said.
© ControlTV 2021.
