Saudi Arabia Bans Flights From Nigeria Over Omicron Variant

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has banned all flights from Nigeria following the six cases of the COVID-19 Omicron Variant detected in the country.

This is coming after the United Kingdom and the Canadian governments imposed a travel ban on Nigeria and included the West African country in its red lists.

According to Daily Trust, the Saudi government has ordered the restriction of flights from Nigeria in order to check the spread of Omicron in the Kingdom.

A source in the consulate of Saudi Arabia in Kano revealed that the Kingdom has directed its embassy in Nigeria to stop the issuance of visas.

The source added that the ban of flights from Nigeria will affect travellers planning to visit the Kingdom for lesser Hajj.

An official at the Kano Airport also told the newspaper that already a circular had been issued that all lesser Hajj trips should be cancelled, due to the development.

“Yes, it is true because a circular was issued that all Lesser Hajj flights should be canceled and there will be no more flights from Nigeria until further notice.

“I think they are following suit the decision of other countries like the UK to prevent against having the virus in the kingdom,” he said.

However, the Saudi Arabia government has confirmed the flight suspension in a circular to all airlines operating in the Kingdom.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) in Saudi Arabia issued the circular on Wednesday.