By Emmanuel Nduka
Saudi Arabian authorities have suspended flights coming from Nigeria into the kingdom as fears over the Omicron variant of COVID-19 worsens.
This was disclosed by an official of the Saudi Embassy in Nigeria who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not granted authorisation to speak. He revealed that the Kingdom took the decision to prevent the further spread of the new infection.
The kingdom recorded its index case of Omiron from a passenger returning from North Africa. Saudi’s temporary restriction also came when Nigeria equally confirmed her fifth case of the new variant.
A reliable source from the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) also confirmed the temporary suspension of passengers coming into the Kingdom from Nigeria.
According to the official, NAHCON is still expecting official communication from the Saudi authority regarding the new travel restriction, adding that the measure would not hamper the commission’s preparation for 2022 hajj.
The Guardian reported that a tour operator in Kano, Abdulrazaq Muslima said information available to him regarding the travel restriction was sketchy.
Abdulrazaq said that it would be too early to act on the available information because two flights including Qatar and Badar airways departed Abuja early Wednesday for Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.
However, another travel agent in Kano, Abdulazeez Sabitu, who also confirmed the development, said the Saudi airline has sent a circular to tour all travel agents in Kano conveying the flight restriction order.
