Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who disclosed this on Sunday in Lagos, explained that it was in retaliation of the restricted flights from Nigeria into those countries over the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron.
Sirika said that the Presidential Steering Committee would also place the three countries – United Kingdom, Canada, Argentina and Saudi Arabia on a red list over the outbreak and spread of the Omicron variant.
According to the minister if those countries placed Nigeria on a red list, they lacked a moral right to have their airlines fly into Nigeria on commercial operations. Sirika said: “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.”
He declared that airlines of the affected countries remained banned and the countries placed on Nigeria’s red list. He apologised to Nigerians intending to travel to those countries, insisting Nigerian government’s decision was in the interest of the country.
Sirika said Nigeria can no longer fold her hands and overlook the sovereignty of over 200 million of her citizens being taken for granted
The United Kingdom 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 made the announcement, had said Nigeria was second only to South Africa in terms of Omicron cases linked to travels. Canada and Saudi Arabia also banned flights and Nigerians from coming into their countries owing to the Omicron variant.