This may not be the best of times for Nigeria and its citizens around the world as the latest information reaching Tribune Online has indicated that the Dubai authorities have tactically banned airlines from carrying Nigerian passengers into the United Arab Emirates effective from Monday, 1st February, 2020.

According to a circular which emanated from the Dubai Airport Operations Control Center, titled ‘Dubai Travel Protocol Update -Travel From Nigeria’ and dated, Friday, January 29, 2021, the Dubai authorities had declared: ”Kindly be advised that effective from 01 February 2021, the following conditions must be met for travel from Nigeria.

“Departing from Nigeria to Dubai, all passengers are required to obtain a negative COVID-19 certificate. The PCR should be conducted within 72 hours of the date of departure.

“All passengers are required to conduct a rapid COVID-19 test and obtain a negative result within four hours of their departure time.

While insisting that passengers must travel directly from Nigeria to Dubai, the Dubai authorities equally declared that “No passengers may enter Dubai from any other country /station if they have visited or transited via Nigeria in the last 14 days.”

Other airlines have started notifying their Nigerian passengers that they have henceforth suspended their airlift to Dubai because of the ban.

According to a memo addressed and sent out by Egypt Air to its travel partners, the airline declared: “Sequence to the memo we received from Dubai Airport Authority asking all Nigerian Travelers coming to Dubai to fly direct effective 1st February, 2021, in view of this, we therefore request you to kindly notify our esteemed passengers that Egyptair will not lift passengers from Nigeria to Dubai from 31st January, 2021 until further notice.

“You are hereby advised to check and cancel all your bookings and inform your passengers about this new development. We are in view of the above expressly authorize full refund for those who want to make refund and seek for alternative or tickets will be opened for future flights for passengers need to keep their tickets . Tour code for refund process: FT*DXB COVID-19 . We thank you for all the trust you reposed on our carrier & promised to update you if any further development on this in the nearest future.”

The latest travel ban may not be unconnected with the recent death of a Nigerian passenger who died of COVID-19 complications few hours after flying into Canada from Nigeria.

The Nigerian who was said to have arrived in Toronto on a Delta Airlines flight from Detroit and got on a connecting Toronto-bound flight after flying from Lagos, Nigeria, to Atlanta died of the pandemic.

According to the report, the man apparently took a COVID-19 test in Nigeria, but hadn’t received the results before departing Nigeria. He was pronounced dead on arrival in the North American country and the Canadian Border Services Agency was notified, the report further said.

Many stakeholders while commenting on the circumstances surrounding the death of the Nigerian passenger had predicted the subsequent consequences the death of the Nigerian would have on Nigerian travelers around other countries.

The latest action of the Dubai authorities according to the feelers across the country’s aviation sector is that of uncertainty as many believed that other countries may take similar measures against Nigerian travelers.

As the ban on Nigerian travelers takes effect from today, key players have been asking questions about the what becomes of the fate of the only Nigerian airline operating into the Dubai/Sharjah as according to the conditions given by the Dubai authorities declared that an Airport Rapid Test has to be done by the Airline.

Amongst questions being asked by key players include if the new rules apply to the Nigerian carrier, Air Peace Flight to Sharjah and if the airline can afford to do Rapid test for all its passengers.

triple996:
Wonderful
Hush puppy and the foolish developers have destroyed our name. Bunch of fools

Asura:
Nigerians should start taking this pandemic seriously.

Air peace should be able to do rapid testing, the only problem would be increased travel fees for the passengers. But i guess its kinda like a blessing for Air peace, giving that most international airlines will not want to fly Nigerians, leaving them with no option but to fly air peace.

How he was allowed to get on that plane without getting his test results is baffling.

Akudaisi:
ure not well

triple996:
Wonderful
Hush puppy and the foolish developers have destroyed our name. Bunch of fools

thebosstrevor1:
Every country in the world always create special rules for Nigerians.

We are very very "special"

valenu:

Yes, because Nigeria is the only country where illiterates control the literates.

thebosstrevor1:


How does this relate with the topic of discussion.

Is it illitrates doing crimes abroad

valenu:
I love this news. Many Nigerians do not know the level the inefficient leadership of Buhari has reduced them to. Most of them who don't travel and are collecting monthly stipend to oppose truth on Nairaland think they are enjoying. Ignorance is not excuse.

Bad leadership results in bad economy.
Bad economy results in increased crime rate.
Increased crime rate results in many countries keeping strict eyes on you.
Country s keeping strict eyes on u results in u remaining in ur forsaken country.
Increased crime rate results in living as a slave in your father land.
Living as a slave in your father land results in dissatisfaction about life hence, snipper!

You must support the splitting of this failed Nigeria if you love your children to come.

valenu:
Have u seen any US citizen doing crimes in Nigeria? No.
It is because they are not led by illiterates. Their economy is growing. Unlike Nigeria where an illiterate is in charge and the economy is falling and the citizens are looking for ways to survive outside the country.

thebosstrevor1:


How many Americans come to Nigeria?

Many americans commit crimes outside america..
Go to mexico and other south american countries and hear their gist, is the cause of these americans doing crime abroad the united states president fault?

How is it Nigerian government fault when Nigerians abroad commit crimes?

Kapilta:
Totally off. Such a burden on a person? Wow.

valenu:
Americans are not rushing to Nigeria because Nigeria has failed. Your Fulani leaders have made Nigeria fail. Improve in economy and see how they will rush to Nigeria.

thebosstrevor1:


Pls tell me one developed place in Nigeria

In your various states, is it fulani that is ruling your state.

Is it fulani that is your state governor, senator, house of rep, state rep, local government chairmen and councilman?

valenu:
That's the reason people are clamouring for restructuring to decentralize the government but you Fulani no gree. If the government is decentralized to give power to regions, that's when you can blame the governors and chairmen/councilors.

The other time, Fulani was terrorizing Enugu and the governor gave order to the police. But there was another order from Abuja, the centre. The police obeyed the order from above instead of the governor's order. Do you still blame the governor for that?

The Amotekun and ESN are like the state police the south has forcefully formed and you Fulani's are against it, why? Because you prefer to control everything from the centre and u still come here to blame governors and chairmen that Tue ApC Fulani pick to obey them like the IMO governor.

I hate to argue with someone without high IQ. Don't quote me again.

thebosstrevor1:


Is your region developed even with all your regional leaders.

Lets not even go to your village? Is it developed?

How many bad roads in your area?

How is the town planning in your local government

Is it fulani people that caused the disorganization in your area.

GallantDuke:

Why are you like this? He had already told you that the underdevelopment of our regions is as a result of the failure of the government at the centre, that is the reason why we are clamouring for the restructuring of the country to empower those governors and until then can we hold them totally responsible.

thebosstrevor1:

Is your state developed?
How many jobs have your state government create for you?
How about your senators and house of rep members
Also how about your state councillors and local government chairmen.
What have all these people done to develop your state.