By Emmanuel Nduka
The Nigerian Government has responded to the yearnings of Nigerian travellers, after it announced the lifting of the ban it previously placed on Emirates Airline from flying into Nigeria.
The announcement however came after painstaking negotiations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Emirates Airlines home country, according to the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika who made the announcement over the weekend.
Briefing journalists in the company of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Oyeama and the National Incidence Manager of the Presidential Steering Committee on Covid-19, Dr Muktar Mohammed, Sirika informed that the UAE has also removed all travel restrictions on Nigerians, adding that the lifting of the ban was without conditions.
The FG had previously barred Emirates from flying into Nigeria over discriminatory policies on Nigerians as regards to COVID-19 protocols by the UAE.
“Today we received communication from UAE removing some of the conditions of travel of which we had concerns about. Haven done so, we feel we should lift the ban on the suspension of Emirates Airline” he said.
He said all the impediments on Emirates were lifted from Friday November 26, thus, the airline can now operate in Nigeria.
Sirika further expressed appreciation for the understanding shown by Nigerians despite the obvious hardships experienced as a result of the spat between the two countries.
On his part, Onyema noted that the Nigerian Government recognises that the UAE has a responsibility to protect the lives of her citizens, thus, whatever measures that they had taken was for the interest of her citizens.
He said the negotiation that led to the renewed relationship was a balanced one and that it was a win-win for both countries, reiterating that though Nigeria has always had an excellent relationship with UAE, the negotiations had made the relationship even stronger.
Similarly, the National Incidence Manager of the Presidential Steering Committee on Covid-19 commended the leadership provided by members of the Committee in ensuring the resolution of the impasse between the two countries.
He also disclosed that the Presidential Steering Committee was watching closely the developments within the Southern African regions with regards to the discovery of a new variant of the virus, saying everything necessary to prevent its entrance into Nigeria would be done.
