The Federal Government of Nigeria (FG) has revealed plans to ban flights from the UK, Canada, Argentina and Saudi Arabia in retaliation against their inclusion of Nigeria in red list countries
The follows safety protocols adopted by the listed countries in the outbreak of Covid-19 Omicron variant.
The information which was contained in PUNCH and reiterated by 97.3 FM radio cited an audio discussion by the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika.
He said that the ban would be announced on Monday or Tuesday by the Presidential Steering Committee on Covid-19.
The Federal government (FG) has repeatedly kicked against the ban on Nigeria by the UK, Canada and Saudi Arabia after the outbreak of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.
In the audio discussion, Sirika was overhead giving explanations on why Nigeria reduced the number of Emirates Airlines’ daily flights to Nigeria to only once weekly.
He added that countries which placed Nigeria on red list would receive similar fate from the country.
According to him, “Also, there is a case of Saudi Arabia which put Nigeria on the banned list – no visa, no travel etc. So also Canada.
“So, today, there was a meeting, I participated in a Zoom meeting, Covid-19 task force, just for your information also.
“We have given our input in aviation, it is not acceptable by us and we recommend that those countries – Canada, the UK, Saudi Arabia and Argentina be also put on red list, as they did similarly to us.
“iI they don’t allow our citizens to go into their countries who are their airlines coming to pick from our country ?
The Minister added, “So, I am very sure that in the next few days, between now and Monday, or perhaps Tuesday, at maximum, all these countries will be put on the red list from the Presidential Steering Committee from the task force of Covid-19.
“Once they are put on the red list, which means they are banned, of course, their airlines will be banned. I’m so sorry, we are going through a difficult moment, but we have to do it in the interest of our country.”
The outbreak of COVID-19 had led to various forms of disagreements between the Federal Government and some nations, particularly in the aviation sector.
On Friday, for instance, The PUNCH reported that the Federal Government on Thursday withdrew its approval of Emirates Airlines winter schedule, cutting down the carriers daily flights to Abuja to just one day in a week after discussions with the United Arab Emirates did not go as planned.
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Covid-19 Omicron: UK Puts Nigeria on Red List
FG Set to Ban Flights from UK, Canada, Argentina and Saudi Arabia