HomenewsEconomyOmicron: FG To Ban Flights From UK, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Argentina

Omicron: FG To Ban Flights From UK, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Argentina

  • December 12, 2021
  • Posted by: admin
  • Category: Economy, Latest News, Marine & Aviation, Tourism
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The Federal Government is set to ban flights from the United Kingdom, Canada, Argentina and Saudi Arabia in retaliation against their decisions to have included Nigeria in red list countries.

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who disclosed this on Sunday revealed on stated that the ban on the three nations would be announced on Monday or Tuesday by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19.

File: Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika

He said; “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.

In the leaked audio, the Minister was providing explanations on why the Federal Government reduced Emirates Airlines daily flights into Nigeria to only one weekly flight, and went ahead to stress that countries that placed Nigeria on red list would receive similar fate from Nigeria.

He said, “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.

“If 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 those countries will be put on the red list from the PSC (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,” he added.