Starting from December 14, the Federal Government of Nigeria will restrict airlines travelling from Canada, the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia into Nigeria.
Nigeria’s Aviation Minister, Capt. Hadi Sirika, announced the decision recently in Lagos and made it known the decision was taken in a bid to reciprocate restricted flights from Nigeria into those countries over the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron.
Sirika said the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari would also place Canada, the United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia on a red list over the outbreak and spread of the Omicron variant.
He said: “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 stressed that airlines of the affected countries would remain banned and the countries placed on Nigeria’s red list.
Sirika appealed to Nigerians planning to travel to those countries but insisted the Nigerian government’s decision was made in the interest of the country.
