UAE Reportedly Bans Airlines From Flying Nigerians To Dubai

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reportedly restricted some airlines from conveying Nigerian passengers into the country.

Ezenwoko’s Blog reports that Nigeria and the UAE have been in a diplomatic crisis regarding Emirates Airline and its treatment of Nigerian travellers.

It was learned that the Middle East country has banned Egypt Air, Air France, KLM, Ethiopian Airlines, Rwanda Air, Etihad and Lufthansa from conveying Nigerian travellers to Dubai.

Speaking to Daily Trust on Monday, a source said many Nigerian passengers who had boarded Ethiopian Airlines heading for Dubai were offloaded.

The source said the passengers were told to come down from the plane on the order of the UAE authorities.

“UAE says no entry for Nigerian passengers from any airline. Ethiopian just offloaded all passengers heading to Dubai. We are voiding Dubai bound tickets,” the source said.

This development follows the restriction of Emirates to operate 21 weekly flights to Nigeria by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

The government instead gave Emirates one weekly slot in Abuja in a retaliatory move after the Sharjah Airport Authorities reportedly had denied Air Peace the three slots it requested.

Reacting, Emirates Airline suspended its flight operations between Dubai and Nigeria over the Nigerian government’s action to restrict its flight operations.

The airline said it will reinstate its operations once the Nigerian government and the UAE authorities resolve the ongoing impasse.

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