FG to ban flights from UK, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Argentina

*As Aviation pressure group lauds FG’s reciprocity on Emirates Airlines

John Okoh

The Presidential Steering Committee plans to ban flight into and out of Nigeria for countries that have put the nation on their Omicron red alert, the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has disclosed.

As a result with effect from Tuesday, December 14, Nigeria will restrict airlines coming from UK, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and Argentina.

The minister noted that if those countries placed Nigeria on a red list, they 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 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.

It would be recalled that the UK had on December 4, added Nigeria to its red list and imposed a travel ban, citing the Omicron variant.

British Health Minister, Sajid Javid, who announced the development, had said Nigeria was second only to South Africa in terms of Omicron cases linked to travels.

Canada and Saudi Arabia had also banned flights and Nigerians from coming into their countries. Nigeria currently has a signed Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) with over 90 countries.

However, over the years, stakeholders have lamented that most air agreements between Nigeria and other countries have been one-sided as Nigerian airlines have been unable to reciprocate the agreements due to what they termed, “aero-politics”.

According to Sirika, Nigeria can no longer fold her hands to overlook the sovereignty of over 200 million of her citizens being taken for granted.

Meanwhile, Aviation Round Table (ART), a pressure group in Nigeria’s aviation sector has commended the Federal Government for reciprocating United Arab Emirates (UAE) flight frequency into that country by Nigeria’s flag carrier.

President of the group, Dr Gabriel Olowo, also commended the Nigerian government in a statement issued in Ikeja on Saturday for reciprocating UAE’s choice of entry points into Nigeria.

The Federal Government on Thursday withdrew its former approval for Emirates Airlines winter schedule, cutting down the carrier’s daily flights to only Abuja to just once a week.

The Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Capt. Musa Nuhu, conveyed Nigeria’s decision in a letter sent to the Country Manager, Emirates Airlines Nigeria.

The letter entitled “Withdrawal of Ministerial Approval of Emirates Airlines Winter Schedule’’ read in part, “I wish to inform you of the withdrawal of the approval granted to Emirates Airlines Winter Schedule.

This withdrawal becomes effective on Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021.

“Please kindly note, henceforth, Emirates Airlines is granted approval to operate only one weekly passenger frequency to Abuja on Thursdays.

“Please be guided accordingly and abide by the new directive.

Reacting to government’s directive, Dr. Olowo said in the group’s statement that the Federal Government was on the right course on the reciprocity order against Emirate Airlines routes and entry points.

Emirates Airline had before now operated 21 weekly flights into Lagos and Abuja airports whereas the UAE granted Nigeria’s flag carrier, Air Peace, only one weekly flight to its Sharjah Airport.

This is even in spite of the fact that Nigeria’s flag carrier applied for only three weekly flights into the UAE.’

“I am indeed very elated to read the current decision by government that our long-time agitation on schedule reciprocity to Nigeria is finally being addressed.

“This confirms the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika’s and Capt. Nuhu’s professionalism and love for Nigeria to address the negative balance of trade with countries participating in Nigeria’s Bilateral Air Services Agreement,’’ he stated.

Olowo added that the ART believed that the correction of these anomalies would not be treated in isolation, but applied to all foreign operations into Nigeria.

He noted that the Federal Government’s decision remained the necessary and sufficient condition to get markets for its carriers.

He stated that government’s decision would further address anti-competition practice prevalent in Nigeria and build strong Nigerian flag carriers and consequently build a strong economy.

Consequent upon Nigeria’s decision of Thursday, Emirates Airlines on Friday announced a suspension of its flights between Nigeria and Dubai from Monday.

It said in the announcement that its last flight to operate between Dubai and the cities of Lagos and Abuja, would be on Dec. 12.

“With the recently imposed directive limiting Emirates to operate one flight per week to Nigeria via Abuja, Emirates will be suspending its flights between Nigeria and Dubai.

“This will be until the UAE and Nigeria work on a solution to the on-going issue,’’ the airline stated.

“Emirates is committed to its operations in Nigeria, and we stand ready to reinstate services once restrictions are lifted by the Nigerian authorities.

“This is to ensure travellers have more choice and access to trade and tourism opportunities in Dubai, and beyond to our network of over 120 destinations.”

“Customers holding tickets with the final destinations Lagos and Abuja will not be accepted at the point of origin,’’ the airline stated.

It gave its customers the option to hold on to their bookings till flights resume.

Passenger services between the UAE and Nigeria had been subjected to restrictions since March.