COVID-19: Senate Intervenes in Diplomatic Row Between Nigeria, UAE

• Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has called on his colleagues in the Senate to review the rift between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates
• The two countries have had a disagreement over COVID-19 PCR testing for Nigerian travellers heading to UAE
• According to Abaribe, the continued action of UAE by banning its national carrier into Nigerian contravenes the letters of bilateral agreements to which both nations are signatory

Following the diplomatic row between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Nigerian Senate has resolved to intervene and ensure peace.

The Senate minority leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, while raising a point of order at the plenary on Tuesday, November 16, said the rift between both countries on PCR testing for COVID-19 for travellers needs to be addressed.

Abaribe relying on Orders 42 and 52 of the Senate Rules said in December 2020, a memorandum of understanding was executed between Nigeria and the UAE to provide a platform for both countries to engage each other bilaterally.

Read also

Insecurity: Go after sponsors of killers, stop accusing us, Northeast Youths tell Buhari

He said that given the circumstances between the countries, Nigeria had stopped the UAE national carrier, Emirates Airline from subjecting Nigerian travellers to additional rapid COVID-19 antigen tests.

The tests according to the MoU, is against the country's stipulated negative PCR test at the Lagos and Abuja airports before departure.

Lack of respect for the letters of bilateral agreements between both nations

Abaribe said the airline had shut down flight operations in Nigeria following a disagreement between the airline and the aviation authorities on the propriety of subjecting passengers travelling from Nigeria to emergency COVID-19 protocols.

According to Abaribe, after the disagreement, flights have resumed but Emirate Airlines continued to conduct tests for passengers before departure from Nigeria.

Secondly, he said that there are allegations that many legal residents of Nigeria living in the UAE are losing their jobs on account of the refusal of the authorities to renew their work permits.

Read also

Omicron variant: Doctors' association gives advice to Nigerian government over travel ban

The lawmaker said this offends the letters of bilateral agreements to which both nations are signatory.

Abaribe said:

“Worried that there are speculations that the refusal by the UAE authorities to renew work permit for Nigerians living in there is a calculated attempt to pressure the Nigerian government into accepting their conditions of service for their national airline that may have lost humongous revenue from the Nigeria route."

“Further worried that if the Nigerian government does not urgently engage the authorities of the UAE , thousands of Nigerians living and working will lose their jobs and means of livelihood hence the need for a quick interface with the authorities of the UAE.”

Following Abaribe's submission, the Senate in its resolution mandated the committees on foreign affairs, Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19 and national security and intelligence and interior (immigration service), respectively, to interface with the ministry of foreign affairs, and National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

Read also

Busted: 6 security officers caught on camera extorting passengers at Lagos Airport, FG reacts

The Senate said that the interface between the committees and the ministry should focus on the best ways of resolving the crisis.

The committees are also expected to report to the Senate within two weeks from the day the task was given.

Evacuation of Nigerians from United Arab Emirate

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that some Nigerians who were stranded in UAE have been evacuated by the Nigerian government.

The intervention by the government led to the arrival of the citizens to Abuja on Friday, June 19.

The evacuation of these Nigerians followed their indication to arrive home over the global spike of COVID-19 cases across the globe at the time.

Banning of Emirates Airlines in Nigeria

Also, shortly after that, Emirates Airlines stopped allowing flights to and fro Nigeria airports on Monday, June 21.

The airline in its announcement said a ban has been placed on Lagos and Abuja flights into the UAE.

While apologising for the development and the inconveniences it might cause for its customers, Emirates Airlines however did not give reasons for its decision.

Source: Legit.ng