By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
The strained diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is getting worse by the day
as the latter has stopped foreign airlines from airlifting Nigerians whose final destination is the UAE especially Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Multiple sources confirmed on Monday of the unfolding development which may be in retaliation of the cancellation of the approval given to Emirates Airline to operate its Winter Schedule flights in and out of Nigeria by the Ministry of Aviation.
Prompt News gathered that a handful of foreign airlines operating in Nigeria especially Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish Air and other international airlines going to Dubai from their bases have refused to board Nigerians whose final destination is the UAE.
It was also gathered that the airlines have been directed not to airlift Nigerian passport holders to Dubai.
So far, hundreds of passengers are affected by this directive as Ethiopian Airline officials were said to have offloaded their Nigerian passengers to Dubai.
The federal government through the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika had at the weekend announced the cut down of Emirates Airline frequencies to Nigeria from 21 to just one commercial flight in and out of Nigeria in one week over BASA dispute.
The Minister spoke through Captain Musa Nuhu, Director General and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
The NCAA boss had explained that FG took such drastic action against Emirates Airline because the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of UAE refused to grant a Nigerian airline, Air Peace Airline permission to operate just three passenger flights weekly to Sharjah International Airport in UAE after Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation had graciously granted Emirates Airline permission to operate 21 passenger flights frequencies into the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos respectively.
The UAE flag carrier, Emirates Airline has since stopped daily operation following the drastic reduction in their scheduled flights.
