Dubai bars Nigerians from flying into UAE as part of renewed coronavirus clampdown

AUTHORITIES in Dubai has published fresh guidelines barring Nigerians from travelling through their airports with effect from February 1 as part of a renewed clampdown aimed at combating the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

In a drastic move, Dubai Airports, the operators of Dubai International Airport, have released fresh travel conditions for Nigerian passengers, barring them from transiting through and airports in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).  This move comes as the UK suspended direct flights between the UAE and Britain as part of measures to curb the spread of the raging coronavirus pandemic.

Subsequently, in a statement sent to travel partners, Dubai Airports said among other things, passengers from Nigeria can no longer travel through other countries or airports to Dubai. Its notice was titled Dubai Travel Protocol Update –Travel From Nigeria.

A Dubai Airports spokesman said: “Kindly be advised that effective from 01 February 2021, the following conditions must be met for travel from Nigeria.  All passengers are required to obtain a negative Covid-19 certificate, which 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. Passengers must travel directly from Nigeria to Dubai, no passenger may enter Dubai from any other country/station if they have visited or transited from Nigeria in the last 14 days.”

Travel expert, Ikechi Uko, said the implication of the measure is that other airlines will not be able to commute Nigerian passengers aside Emirates Airlines, which has its major hub at the Dubai International Airport. Other airlines fly into Sharjah, UAE from Nigeria but none flies directly to Dubai.