With effect from Tuesday, December 14, the federal government will restrict airlines coming from Canada, the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia into Nigeria.
This may have been done in retaliation for the travel ban placed on Nigeria’s carriers and citizens, spearheaded by the United Kingdom, arising from the reported spread of Omicron, the latest variant of COVID-19.
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, announced the decision on Sunday in Lagos and explained that it was to reciprocate restricted flights from Nigeria into those countries over the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron.
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 if those countries placed Nigeria on a red list, they 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 the Nigerian government’s decision was in the interest of the country.
. We’re Not Moved, Says UK
Meanwhile, The British High Commission on Sunday said the United Kingdom would not reverse its travel ban on Nigeria because of a threat of retaliation by the Federal Government.
The spokesman for the British High Commission, Dean Hurlock, said this in response to a statement by the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, that the UK, Canada and Saudi Arabia would be put on Nigeria’s travel ban on Tuesday.
Hurlock stated that Britain had made it clear that travel abroad would be different this year, adding that the UK was sticking to its “standard background lines.”
In a text message to the high commission, one of our correspondents stated that the Federal Government had said it would place a travel ban on the UK as a retaliatory move.
Hurlock stated, “The UK Government propose sticking to our standard background lines on whether ‘x’ country will put us on the red list and avoid getting into hypothetical situations.
“The UK government has been clear that travel abroad will be different this year and countries may impose border measures at short notice in line with their own coronavirus policies.”
He added that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advice was kept under constant review and asked travellers to continue to check it for entry requirements of the destination they plan to visit.
“Travellers can also sign up for e-mail alerts on GOV.UK to get the latest updates as soon as they happen. We are in regular conversations with other countries about their travel policies,” Hurlock explained.
. Emirates Reacts to Suspension from Nigeria
The government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reacted to Nigeria’s withdrawal of ministerial approval granted to Emirates Airlines with respect to its Winter flight schedule from Nigeria.
This was confirmed in a letter addressed to Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika by the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
According to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s withdrawal of the approval which becomes effective from Sunday, December 12, Emirates Airlines is granted approval to fly only one weekly passenger frequency to Abuja on Thursdays.
A few days ago, according to a letter, which was signed by the Director-General, NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu, the apex aviation regulator withdrew the ministerial approval granted to Emirate Airlines’ Winter Schedule.
The NCAA disclosed in a follow-up statement that the approval was withdrawn because the same treatment was given to Air Peace Airlines, the only Nigerian airline that operates passenger flights to Sharjah International Airport, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The GCAA in its statement had stated that the decision by Nigeria’s NCAA was totally unjustified, especially as it has been disclosed that the action is being taken against the background of Air Peace not securing all 3 slots at Sharjah Airport which they desired.
The GCAA said that Air Peace initially operated at Sharjah Airport, shifted to Dubai Airport and then returned to Sharjah airport and that it would be unreasonable for the airline to expect any airport to maintain its slots when it ceases to operate at the airport.
“In this regard, we wish to kindly advise you that Sharjah airport is currently operating at 140% slot capacity, but with goodwill and tremendous effort on their side, this airport was able to accommodate Air Peace with 1 of the 3 slots that this airline requested,” it said.
The GCAA however offered to help Air Peace find available slots in other airports in the UAE.
It said, “Finally, we suggest that Air Peace should consider flying their two other flights to any UAE airport at which there are available slots. As expected, the GCAA will support Air Peace in this activity, where requested.”
It, however, advised Nigeria to reconsider the withdrawal of approval as it stated that the issue should never have been between Nigeria and Emirates Airlines, but between Air Peace and Sharjah Airport
“In this regard, we wish to reiterate that this is a purely operational matter between Air Peace and Sharjah Airport and in any case it should have absolutely o implication for Emirates Airline,” it added.
In the last year, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic, Nigeria and Emirates Airlines have had frosty relationship.