Omicron Variant: In Retaliation, FG Restricts Airlines From UK, Canada Saudi Arabia
POLITICS DIGEST- The Federal Government has announced that from Tuesday, Dec. 14, airlines coming from Canada, United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia will be restricted entrance into Nigeria.
Minister of Aviation, Capt. Hadi Sirika disclosed on Sunday in Lagos State.
According to Sirika, the move was to reciprocate restricted flights from Nigeria into those countries over the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron.
Sirika noted President Muhammadu Buhari administration would also place the United Kingdom, Canada and Saudi Arabia on a red list over the outbreak and spread of the Omicron variant.
The minister noted that if those countries placed Nigeria on a red list, they lacked a moral right to have their airlines fly into Nigeria on commercial operations.
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“There is also the case of Saudi Arabia that put Nigeria on the ban list. On Sunday, I participated in a meeting with the COVID-19 task force.
“We have given our input that it is not acceptable by us and we recommended that those Canada, the UK, Saudi Arabia and Argentina also be put on the red list.
“As they did to us, if they do not allow our citizens into their countries; who are they coming, as airlines, to pick from our country?
“They are not supposed to come in. I am very sure in the next three days; Monday or Tuesday, all those countries will be put on the red list of COVID-19,’’ the minister said.
Sirika who apologized to Nigerians intending to travel to those countries stated that airlines of the affected countries remained banned and are placed on Nigeria’s red list.
He added that Nigerian government’s decision was in the interest of the country.
