Covid 19: Nigeria may ban flights to UAE and Netherlands

The concerned authorities in United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Netherlands have been reported to have introduced new pre-boarding Covid19 test requirement on travellers from Nigeria.

The new pre-boarding tests may lead to the suspension of flights to these countries.

The Director-General of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA),Musa Nuhu, revealed the new pre-boarding requirements at a recent briefing by the presidential task force (PTF) on COVID-19.

He stated that the new protocol would require that, travellers are to do a rapid test at the airports in Lagos and Abuja four hours to their outbound flights.

He said “They are adding an extra requirement of having a rapid test done four hours before departure or before you board.”

He further stated that “If they insist on having these additional tests done, then PTF has decided that their operations will be suspended into Nigeria.”

He said these countries and airlines “cannot determine for Nigeria who to approve or how these tests will be done”.

Nuhu said the government will hold discussions with the airlines and countries involved.

This will enable the PTF to have a clear and transparent process on determining who will do these tests “based on the requirement for accreditation by NCDC, National Laboratory Council, Lagos state government for Lagos airport and FCT for Abuja airport”.

He however stated that the Federal Government is probing reports that some Nigerians have been travelling with fake COVID test results.