Nigeria suspends Emirates flights, as Buhari appoints 4 new heads of aviation agencies
By Ayo Fadimu
The federal government has announced the suspension of inbound and outbound flights by Emirates Airlines from midnight of Wednesday following the insistence of the Dubai based airline to have PCR tests for passengers embarking from Nigeria within 72 hours of their flights in addition to Antigen Rapid Test at Nigerian airports and another PCR test on arrival in Dubai.
The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika announced the federal government’s decision on Monday while giving updates at the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 briefing in Abuja.
He said Nigeria as a country, considered as unacceptable and devoid of any sense of reasoning the grounds advanced by Emirates, adding there was no logic to take within 72 hours the PCR and a rapid antigen test 72 hours before flight as the coronavirus itself will incubate at least in or after 72 hours.
He added that the decision to suspend Emirates operations in Nigeria had been communicated to the airline since Sunday.
Sirika also added that KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has accepted the conditions spelled out by the federal government to bring passengers in and out by having a PCR Test within 72 hours. He noted the airline had agreed to start flying immediately.
“Emirates did not accept that position so we have asked Emirates to be banned for operations midnight of Wednesday and that has been communicated to them since yesterday,” Sirika said.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Captain Modibbo Alkali Mahmud as the new Rector of the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology, NCAT, Zaria.
The President also appointed Prof. Bako Mansur Matazu as new Director-General of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET). This is just as he also appointed Engr. Akin Olateru as the Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Accident Investigation Bureau ( AIB).
These appointments are contained in a statement by the Director of Public Affairs, Ministry of Aviation, James Odaudu, made available to journalists in Abuja.
According to the statement, the appointments are line with the administration’s commitment to the implementation of the aviation development roadmap.
On NIMET boss and his qualification, Odaudu stated: “Professor Matazu holds a PhD in Geography (Applied Meteorology), with membership of the Nigerian Environmental Society, African Forestry Forum, Nigerian Meteorological Society, the Climate Change Network, Nigeria and the renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, Nigeria (REEN).
“He was, until his appointment, the General Manager, Meteorological Research in the Agency.”
For NCAT: “The new Rector holds the Airline Transport Pilot Licenses of the Federal Aviation Administration, USA, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Embraer, Citation and other international professional certifications.
“Captain Modibbo had served in various capacities, including Pilot in Training, Fleet Captain at Dornier Aviation Nigeria, Max Air and other organisations and has clocked about 6000 hours of flying career.”
For AIB: “Olateru is an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer with Nigerian, UK and USA licenses, Olateru began his career in engineering maintenance with Pan African Airlines and the Nigerian Police Air Wing after which he left Nigeria for further studies abroad.
“He has also worked with multiple airlines in Europe including KLM, Martin Air in Holland, British Aerospace Engineering and British Midland Airways. “He attended City University, London and graduated with an M.Sc. in Air Transport Management with specializations in research and simulations into accident investigations.”
Mr Odaudu stated that the appointments are with immediate effect, adding that the reorganisation is a continuous exercise that will involve other management staff of all agencies of the Ministry.
