The Federal Government has suspended Emirates Airlines operations in Nigeria for using Rapid Antigen Tests of Covid-19 test conducted by federal govt. unapproved laboratories to airlift passengers in the country.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, in a statement said it is a violation of paragraph 5 Of the Agency’s letter of 2nd February 2021 which clearly states that based on the foregoing to enable the Nigerian govt put in place the needed infrastructure and logistics for Covid-19 RDT testing on departing passengers.
The Presidential Task Force on covid-19 had directed Emirates airline to accept air passengers who had already conducted govt. approved laboratories tests pending when the RDT is authorized or suspend its flight operations.
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It said it is unfortunate that the Airline ignored the directive by the PTF and still went ahead to carry out RDT tests for covid-19 on air passengers without compliance with the two options given as records obtained from Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, indicated that Emirates Airlines operated an international flights from Murtala Mohammed, Nigeria to United Arab Emirates on the 3rd February with 195 passengers on board.
Editor Paul Akhagbemhe
