The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has suspended travellers from Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia from entering the country.
The National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Emergency Management Authority (NCEMA) and the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) announced the decision on Friday and it takes effect from Saturday, December 25.
The development created chaos for both inbound and outbound passengers, including Nigerians wishing to come home for the Yuletide.
Some had arranged last-minute flight changes to other European, African and US carriers.
The new travel rule implies that Nigerians cannot use the other available Abu Dhabi-based airline, Etihad, which had seen an unprecedented rise in passenger traffic as an alternative to Emirates.
Emirates stopped flight services to Nigeria because of the recently resolved spat between Nigeria-UAE.
