Aviation
UAE bars all airlines from bringing Nigerians into the country

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has barred all airlines from conveying Nigerian passengers to the country as the diplomatic row between the two nations deepens.
Among these airlines are Egypt Air, Air France, KLM, Ethiopian Airlines, Rwanda Air, Etihad.
On Monday, many Nigerian passengers who board Ethiopian Airlines heading for Dubai were sent off the plane.
This happened hours after the restrictions imposed on Emirates by the Federal Government took effect, Daily Trust reported.
The Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had withdrawn the winter schedule earlier approved for Emirates to operate 21 weekly flights to Nigeria.
The government instead gave Emirates one weekly slot in Abuja, the nation’s capital, in a tit-for-tat measure after the Sharjah Airport Authorities reportedly denied Air Peace the three slots it requested.
Following the development, Emirates had suspended all its flights to Nigeria pending the resolution of the issues between Nigeria and the UAE.
But things worsened after Dubai-bound passengers using other airlines were reportedly barred.
A source told Daily Trust that the de-boarding of Nigerian passengers was 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.
There has been no official communication from the UAE authorities on the latest development.
Daily Trust had earlier reported how many Nigerian passengers were stranded over the Emirates logjam.
A passenger, who was to travel via an Emirates flight on Monday, had to explore an alternative airline, paying over N500,000 to travel via Lufthansa.
Among those stranded are businessmen, students and others said to be going for medical reasons.
“I had to book another flight on Lufthansa travelling through Brazil just to connect Dubai because the various restrictions across the world have made travel very difficult for everybody because you have to travel via a destination, not on the red list.”
“But I must be in Dubai by all means and that has cost me an extra N500,000. How many people can afford this,” a student who preferred anonymity, said.
The Vice-President of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), Abuja Zone, Ambassador Adeshola Kayode, lamented that millions of naira have been lost and businesses affected as a result of the current imbroglio.
“We have lost millions, clients have started requesting refunds and some of these tickets are not refundable and for those that have refunds, it will take time to process,” he said.
He, however, said the federal government’s decision was a welcome development to protect the sovereignty and integrity of the country.
A former president of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), Engr. Isaac Balami, said Emirates and other foreign airlines should begin to respect Nigeria.
“They should begin to take us seriously. When we didn’t fly into the country, we did not die. They must begin to respect Africa, most importantly Nigeria.
“I commend the minister and the DG for this bold step and I pray that we will continue in that trajectory, not just Emirates but any other person who will not respect and honour Nigeria.
“When Emirates solves the problem and makes Air Peace happy, we will also make them happy.”
Anonymous
December 16, 2021 at 6:16 am
Very well said! It’s high time we told ourselves the truth…..
Anonymous
December 15, 2021 at 7:45 pm
This is a wakeup call for Africana Leaders, today it Nigerians tomorrow it will be one of any African country
Juliet Akuzuha
December 14, 2021 at 5:12 pm
Well done emirate for burning flights from Nigeria this people have destroyed the African reputation ,,,bad habits of all all kinds of crime’s here in UAE there ladies misbehaving by selling their bodies let them be denied entry until they change their bad behaviors
Juliet
December 14, 2021 at 10:53 pm
Comment from a bore fool who lacks the ability to read and understand the conflict between emirates and Nigeria. You are a lowlife nonentity and should learn to read before you write nuisance
Fifen
December 15, 2021 at 12:31 pm
Am not gonna lie but Nigerian in particular has a very bad character
Anonymous
December 15, 2021 at 11:20 am
You are a fool
Anonymous
December 15, 2021 at 12:25 pm
Get your facts and stop splitting rubbish and the writer should get more updated instead of writing old news .Emirates is also loosing in their own path so who cares Afterall , Everybody will go back to their respective countries one day. So is a win win case.
Israel
December 15, 2021 at 12:32 pm
You have bipolar disorder, you don’t even understand the news, you just spill out hatred, what happens to Nigeria happens to all African countries too, we have to be united to move forward, if Nigerians are bad does it means you are all angels in your country, prostitution and all others crimes can not be tied to a particular nationality, it’s about the person’s heart not nationality, anybody can become bad or good if they choose to
Jenniecoco
December 14, 2021 at 4:13 pm
What a shame!…You want people to give you respect, that you haven’t earned?…Thousands of Nigerians work in the Emirates..You want all of them losing their jobs, over your silly drama? The first thing is to fix your country .Just like the Emirates fixed their country…You can’t be bluffing, when your citizens need the Emirates , more than the Emirates need them.
Anonymous
December 14, 2021 at 6:49 am
The man that is saying that Emirate and other airlines should begin to respect Nigeria on what level? When all our useless and foolish Leaders refused to put their country in order.But they prefer stealing the money and travelling to invest in a foreign land.Even though that didn’t fly to Naija for 50 years,they can still survive because they have put their nation in other.We the poor masses are the ones suffering it.
Anonymous
December 16, 2021 at 6:18 am
Very well said…. It’s high time we told ourselves the truth!
Solomon Nwadinobi chibueze
December 13, 2021 at 9:04 pm
Please in the name of GOD almighty I plead with you people to resolve this issues people are getting frustrated everyday I know it’s not affecting you people, please you people should think about the poor masses that are innocent of all this but are suffering, please I know that Nigeria government is not the owner of air peace, but I beg you people with the name of whatever you worship, we are dying by this your decision please help the innocent poor masses