The Dubai airline, Emirates on Monday, June 21, announced the suspension of passenger flights to and from Nigeria till further notice.
The announcement comes 48 hours after restrictions on direct flights between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates was lifted after a long-standing disagreement between both countries.
The dispute was over the use of rapid COVID-19 tests.
A statement issued by Emirates Airlines reads, “customers traveling to and from Lagos, Abuja will not be accepted for travel. Customers who have been to or connected through Lagos, Abuja in the last 14 days are not permitted to board from any point to the UAE.”
“We regret the inconvenience caused, and affected customers should contact their booking agent; or Emirates call centre for rebooking,” the airline added.
There has been no explanation for the sudden reversal; which puts a question mark on the bilateral relationship between both countries.
Meanwhile, the South East Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Gidado Siddiki, has voiced the association’s opposition to the ban on open grazing in the region by the Southern governors.
Siddiki made this call on Sunday, June 20, while disclosing that the ban will remain ineffective; until an alternative to open grazing is provided for the herders.
The Miyetti Allah leader revealed that the government has not provided ranching for them as an alternative in conducting their business.
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Siddiki said: “Our position is that we are not opposed to the ban on open grazing; but at least we need an alternative.
“You know when somebody is doing business and you stop him from doing that business; he would be given an alternative on what to do.
“When you say that you have banned open grazing, you need to tell us how we should graze our cows; because what we know is grazing. If there is an alternative, there is no problem; and that is the only thing we are begging for.
“The governors should tell us because when you want to enact a law on somebody; you have to call him so that you can tell him what he can do; and you and that person will put heads together before you can do that law.”
