UAE lifts travel ban on Nigeria, eleven others
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced plans to lift its entry and transit ban on travellers who had recently visited Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia and eight other African countries.
The lifting of the ban was made known on Wednesday by the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Emergency Management Authority (NECDEMA).
“From January 29, entry into the UAE for arrivals from Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Nigeria, the Republic of the Congo, the Republic of South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe is allowed again,” the tweet reads
According to the statement, entry procedures have been updated for flights originating from Ghana, Rwanda and Uganda.
It added that passengers arriving from these three countries to the UAE must have a negative COVID-19 test obtained within 48 hours of departure from the approved labs in their respective countries.
The UAE authority said passengers must undergo a Rapid PCR test at the airports of departure. On arrival in the UAE, they will be subjected to another PCR test.
The Arab nation asked residents of African countries to refrain from travelling to the country if they have COVID-19 symptoms.
Travel restrictions were put in place in December by the Arab country over the emergence of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
Emirates Airline, the flag carrier of the UAE, had also suspended flights to several African nations as a result of the directive.
Last two weeks, the airline resumed flights from five African countries — excluding Nigeria.
