The federal government is set to ban airlines coming from the UK, Canada, Saudi Arabia and Argentina into Nigeria as from Tuesday, December 14, 2021.
The minister of aviation, Mr. Hadi Sirika, announced the decision on Sunday in Lagos.
He explained that it was to reciprocate the restriction of flights from Nigeria into the affected countries over the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron.
Sirika also stated that the government would place the United Kingdom, Canada, Saudi Arabia and Argentina on a red list over the outbreak and spread of the Omicron variant.
He noted that if those countries placed Nigeria on a red list, they lack 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 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,’’ Sirika said.
He stressed that airlines of the affected countries remained banned and the countries placed on Nigeria’s red list.
The minister, however, apologised to Nigerians intending to travel to those countries, but said Nigerian government’s decision was in the interest of the country.
