Nigerian Aviation Minister Announces Ban On Flights From Canada, UK, Saudi Arabia In Retaliatory Move

The Federal Government of Nigeria will prohibit airlines coming into Nigeria from Canada, the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia with effect from Tuesday, December 14.

The Minister of Aviation, Captain Hadi Sirika announced this development on Sunday in Lagos. According to the Minister, the move was to reciprocate restricted entry of flights from Nigeria into those countries over the newly discovered Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Sirika stated that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration would also be placing the United Kingdom, Canada and Saudi Arabia on the red list over the outbreak and spread of the Omicron variant.

The Minister further stated that those countries that placed Nigeria on a red list lacked the 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 Canada, the UK, Saudi Arabia and Argentina should 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,’’ Sirika said.