Due to the new COVID-19 protocols introduced by the United Arab Emirates and The Netherlands for incoming travelers, the Nigerian Government has announced that it might suspend flights to both countries.

While speaking at the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 briefing on Monday, the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Musa Nuhu said both countries recently demanded that passengers from Nigeria must carry out a PCR test four hours before leaving the country.

Nuhu further said; “In addition to the requirements before departure or boarding the flight is a rapid PCR test done four hours earlier.

He further added that “for us, passengers do the test 72 hours before departure and then the PCR test and the PTF recognizes the rights of all countries to put in measures to protect their citizens just like Nigeria has done.”

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

Read Also:

About 256 Nigerians evacuated from UAE arrive Lagos

COVID-19: Kenya Airways Suspends Flights to 2 European Hubs

The Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority stated that the countries and airlines coming from there cannot determine for Nigeria who to approve or how these tests will be done.

However, he added that the government will be discussing with the airlines and countries involved.

This will allow the PTF to have a clear and transparent process on determining who will do these test “based on the requirement for accreditation by Nigeria Centre for Disease and Control, National Laboratory Council, Lagos State Government for Lagos airport, and FCT for Abuja airport.”