By John Ikani
With effect from Tuesday, Dec. 14, the Federal Government will restrict airlines coming from Canada, United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia into Nigeria.
Hadi Sirika, Minister of Aviation, who disclosed this on Sunday in Lagos, explained that it was to reciprocate the travel ban placed on Nigeria over the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron.
The UK had imposed travel restrictions on Nigeria, claiming that 21 cases of Omicron recorded in England were linked to travellers from Nigeria.
But the travel ban was trailed by global outrage with some national and international stakeholders describing it as racist and discriminatory.
Saudi Arabia had also imposed a temporary ban on flights from Nigeria over the increasing number of omicron variant cases.
On its part, Canada also banned travels from Nigeria and nine other African countries over omicron variant concerns.
Sirika said President Muhammadu Buhari’s 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 countries which placed Nigeria on a red list lacked a moral right to have their airlines fly into Nigeria on commercial operations.
“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.
He stressed that airlines of the affected countries remained banned and the countries placed on Nigeria’s red list.
Sirika apologised to Nigerians intending to travel to those countries, but said Nigerian government’s decision was in the interest of the country.
What you should know
With reports of cases of new Omicron variant rising in the UK, some governments have taken measures to ban UK citizens from entering their countries.
According to the latest information from the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office in London, countries like Australia, Falkland Islands, Indonesia Buhutan, China, Israel, Japan, Laos, New Zealand, and Suriname have imposed travel restrictions on the UK.
In addition, Malaysia and Taiwan have banned the entry of British travellers and foreign nationals from entry.
Chinese authorities have also suspended all direct flights from the UK.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had announced that the country had recorded only six confirmed cases of the COVID-19 Omicron variant.
