Tag: Saudi Arabia

  • Omicron: CSO urge Saudi Arabia to end Flight suspension on Nigeria

    Omicron: CSO urge Saudi Arabia to end Flight suspension on Nigeria

    By Jabiru Hassan, Kano.

    Independent Hajj Reporters, a civil society organisations that monitors and reports Hajj and Umrah activities has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to deploy diplomatic measures to engage the government of Saudi Arabia with a view to ending the flight suspension placed on Nigeria by the Kingdom of over the prevalence Omicron variant of Covid-19.

    IHR in a statement on Thursday signed by its National Coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammad said it acknowledged and lauds the proactive efforts of Saudi Arabia in protecting the Holy Sites and Muslims from the virus that resulted in restricting countries that has reported the Omicron Variant.

    “However, it is our hope that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is aware that other countries such as the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, who had earlier invoked flight suspension on Nigeria based on Omicron, have now lifted the suspension”. “In addition, United States had on Tuesday lifted the travel ban initially imposed on South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Malawi over Omicron; after United States Center for Disease Control recommends lifting the travel restrictions arguing that such restrictions are no longer necessary to protect the public health”.

    The statement appealed to Saudi Arabia to queue into the World Health Organization advice against blanket travel ban over omicron and lift the suspension on Nigerian Pilgrims. It is apparent that what countries need to do is to adopt measures that will stem the tide of Omicron spread without having to selectively ban some countries.

    It said “Moreso, Nigerian Hajj Operators being the fifth Hajj/Umrah facilitators has suffered serious financial losses running into billions of naira. Many of the operators have closed shop with many more in debt with no special bail out or hardship curtailment assistance from any quarter”.

    Both Nigeria and Saudi Arabia should understand that the recent suspension came at a time when the few Hajj/Umrah Operators who are trying to stand the heat begin to salvage what remains of their business. Further delay or continued blockade of Nigeria from entering the Kingdom will definitely lead to the collapse of an entire Hajj and Umrah Industry”.

    The statement added IHR stated that its appeal is also based on The International Air Transport Association (IATA) earlier call on governments of all nations to follow the advice of the World Health Organization (WHO) and immediately rescind travel bans that were placed on Nigeria, South Africa and others – called that has been heeded by United Kingdom and Canada.

    The advice states that “public health organizations, including the WHO, have kicked against travel bans to contain the spread of Omicron, that blanket travel bans will not prevent the international spread, and they place a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods. In addition, they can adversely impact global health efforts during a pandemic by disincentivizing countries to report and share epidemiological and sequencing data.

    “After nearly two years with COVID-19, we know a lot about the virus and the inability of travel restrictions to control its spread. But the discovery of the Omicron variant induced instant amnesia on governments which implemented knee-jerk restrictions in complete contravention of advice from the WHO” “Based on the above, we appeal to relevant agencies in the Kingdom to review the direct travel ban placed on Nigeria with a view to lifting the ban as soon as it is desirable,” the statement concluded.

  • FG to Restrict Airlines from UK, Saudi Arabia, Others in response to Omicron travel ban

    FG to Restrict Airlines from UK, Saudi Arabia, Others in response to Omicron travel ban

    The Federal Government is to ban flights from the United Kingdom, Canada, Argentina and Saudi Arabia in retaliation against their decisions to have included Nigeria in red list countries.

    Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, disclosed this in a leaked audio, where he revealed that the ban on the three nations would be announced on Monday or Tuesday by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19.

    The Federal Government had repeatedly kicked against the ban on Nigeria by the UK, Canada and Saudi Arabia after the outbreak of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

    In the leaked audio, Sirika was providing explanations on why the Federal Government reduced Emirates Airlines daily flights into Nigeria to only one weekly flight, and went ahead to stress that countries that placed Nigeria on red list would receive similar fate from Nigeria.

    He said, “Also, there is a case of Saudi Arabia, which put Nigeria on the banned list – no visa, no travel, etc. So also Canada. So, today, there was a meeting, I participated in a zoom meeting, COVID-19 task force, just for your information also.

    “We have given our input in aviation, it is not acceptable by us and we recommend that those countries – Canada, the UK, Saudi Arabia, and Argentina be also put on red list, as they did similarly to us.

    “If they don’t allow our citizens to go into their countries who are their airlines coming to pick from our country?

    The minister added, “So, I am very sure that in the next few days, between now and Monday, or perhaps Tuesday, at maximum, all those countries will be put on the red list from the PSC (Presidential Steering Committee) from the task force of COVID-19.

    “Once they are put on the red list, which means they are banned, of course, their airlines will be banned. I’m so sorry, we are going through a difficult moment, but we have to do it in the interest of our country.”

    The outbreak of COVID-19 had led to various forms of disagreements between the Federal Government and some nations, particularly in the aviation sector.

  • Omicron Variant hits Saudi Arabia, first reported case in Arab world

    Omicron Variant hits Saudi Arabia, first reported case in Arab world

    Saudi Arabia on Wednesday confirmed the discovery of the new coronavirus variant, Omicron.

    The announcement is the first to be reported in the Arab world.

    The case was detected in a Saudi man who returned from a North African nation.

    State news agency, SPA broke the news, citing a Health Ministry official, but did not name that country.

    Saudi Arabia had banned flights to and from several African countries.

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised concerns about the new variant.

    Omicron could evade the body’s immune response and make it more transmissible.

  • Saudi Arabia announces ban on fruits, vegetables from Lebanon

    Saudi Arabia announces ban on fruits, vegetables from Lebanon

    Saudi Arabia has announced a ban on the import of Lebanese fruits and vegetable over drug smuggling concerns, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday,

    The ban will come into force on Sunday (April 25) and will apply to produce that originates from Lebanon or has transited through the country, according to the report.

    Saudi Arabia has noticed an increase in drug smugglers in Lebanon targeting Saudi Arabia, the report citing a statement from the Ministry of Interior.

    Lebanese products are being used to smuggle drugs into the Kingdom’s territory, either through consignments intended for Saudi markets or those that transit through the Kingdom on their way to neighboring countries. The most common products used to smuggle the drugs were fruits and vegetables, the report added.

    The ban will last until Lebanese authorities provide guarantees that they will take the necessary measures to stop systematic drug smuggling operations.

    The Ministry of Interior will continue to follow up and monitor consignments of other products coming from Lebanon to see whether similar measures needed to be taken against them.

    Commenting on the move, Lebanon’s caretaker Agriculture Minister Abbas Mortada said that Saudi Arabia’s ban on his country’s fruit and vegetable exports was a “great loss” as the trade was worth $24 million a year, Reuters reported.

    “The issue is very serious especially if it negatively affects the rest of the Gulf states that could take similar or stringent measures,” Mortada was quoted as saying.

  • Another 425 Stranded Nigerians Return From Saudi Arabia

    Another 425 Stranded Nigerians Return From Saudi Arabia

    Another batch of stranded Nigerians has returned to the country from Saudi Arabia on Wednesday 3rd February 2021.

    A social media post by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) states that the batch which had a total of 425 citizens arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Wednesday, February 3.

    This is the third batch of Nigerians that have returned to the country within the last week.

    Last Thursday, a total of 384 Nigerians returned from the Middle East Kingdom, and a day after that, another batch numbering over 400 returned to the nation.

    Those who returned today did so via Saudi Air Flight B773, arriving at about 1pm local time.

    NIDCOM says they will join other returnees that arrived earlier and are currently undergoing quarantine at the Federal Capital Territory Hajj camp for 14 days in line with the reversed COVID-19 protocols by the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19.

  • Second batch of Stranded Nigerians Return From Saudi Arabia

    Second batch of Stranded Nigerians Return From Saudi Arabia

    Another batch of Nigerians on Friday returned to the country from Saudi Arabia, a day after 384 others came back from the same nation.

    The returnees who include 126 men and 293 females, including children, arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport onboard Saudi Arabia Airline SV-3413 at exactly 11:57 a.m.

    Yesterday’s returnees – 300 males, 83 females, and one infant – were received by a representative of the minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bolaji at the Hajj Terminal where he charged them not to despair.

    He, however, said the Nigerian government does not support illegal migration.

    The returnees will be quarantined at the Federal Capital Territory Hajj camp for 14 days in line with the reversed COVID-19 protocols by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.

    The evacuation of the stranded Nigerians followed a viral video in which they called for help. The videos showed bodies – wrapped in black polythene bags – lying on the floor in a packed room with a voice narrating that they have been stranded for more than seven months.

    “I can’t confirm the video. But I know that we have 600 Nigerians that are illegal migrants, that would be leaving Saudi Arabia,” the Chairman of NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa said while responding to the viral video.

    “Yesterday we were with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada, and other officials and plans have already been made to get them home before the end of the month pending any unforeseen circumstances.”

  • 384 Stranded Nigerians Return From Saudi Arabia

    384 Stranded Nigerians Return From Saudi Arabia

    A total of 384 Nigerians stranded in Saudi Arabia on Thursday arrived at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    The returnees arrived via Air flight B773 at about 1:10 pm local time and were received by officials including those of Nigerians In Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM).

    They include 300 males, 83 females, and one infant.

    A representative of the minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bolaji received the returnees at the Hajj Terminal where he charged them not to despair.

    He however said the Nigerian government does not support illegal migration.

    The evacuation of the stranded Nigerians follows a call for help my them in a video that went viral recently on social media.

    The videos showed bodies – wrapped in black polythene bags – lying on the floor in a packed room with a voice narrating that they have been stranded for more than seven months.

    The Chairman of NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa while responding to the viral video depicting Nigerians pleading to be returned from Saudi Arabia assured that they will be evacuated from the Muslim country by January 28th and 29th.

    She attributed the delay to the coronavirus pandemic as both countries bickered over the responsibility of paying for COVID-19 tests.

    “I can’t confirm the video. But I know that we have 600 Nigerians that are illegal migrants, that would be leaving Saudi Arabia.

    “Yesterday we were with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada, and other officials and plans have already been made to get them home before the end of the month pending any unforeseen circumstances,” the NIDCOM boss said.

  • Nigerians detained in Saudi Arabia cry out for help, FG reacts

    Nigerians detained in Saudi Arabia cry out for help, FG reacts

    Some Nigerians detained in Saudi Arabia over expired visas and inability to renew their residency, have appealed for help.

    One of them urged the Nigerian government to intervene.

    “We all here are Nigerians. We have been here for more than 3, 6, 7 months without any action or information on transportation back to Nigeria.

    “According to the rules and regulations of this location, you should be here for 2 weeks. But we have been here for more than 5, 6, 7 months. Others have flown back to their country.

    “Only we Nigerians don’t have any source or way to go back. I’m here on behalf of others to beg for your pardon to help us; assist us please to get back to our country”, he said.

    The footage caught the attention of the federal government.

    On Friday, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, confirmed that the nationals would be flown home next week.

    “There are plans for evacuation: 28, 29 Jan, in two batches of 400 and 200 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs”, she tweeted.

    The official called for enlightenment campaigns for people to desist from irregular migration.

    “It’s become very dangerous and more difficult,” the NIDCOM chief added.

  • COVID-19: Saudi Arabia Reopens Land Borders, Resmes international flight

    COVID-19: Saudi Arabia Reopens Land Borders, Resmes international flight

    Saudi Arabia on Sunday announced the reopening of borders and the resumption of international flights after a two-week suspension aimed to stem the spread of a new Covid-19 strain.

    The government ordered the lifting of “precautionary measures related to the spread of a new variant of coronavirus”, the Ministry of the Interior said, according to the official Saudi Press Agency.

    Saudi Arabia has recorded more than 363,000 cases, including over 6,200 deaths –- the highest among the Gulf Arab states — but has also reported a high recovery rate.

    Riyadh suspended international flights and access through land crossings and ports on December 21.

    Other Gulf countries, Oman and Kuwait, who had taken similar measures, have also lifted them in recent days.

    But travellers returning from Britain, South Africa or “any country where the new variant of the coronavirus is spreading” are subject to more restrictions, the statement added.

    Foreigners coming from those countries must spend 14 days in another country before entering Saudi Arabia, and show a negative test.

    Saudi nationals returning from those countries will be able to enter directly — but must then spend two weeks in quarantine on arrival, and be subject to tests.

    Last month Saudi Arabia was one of the first Gulf countries to launch a massive vaccination campaign using the Pfizer-BioNTech jab.

  • Saudi Arabia halts all international flights amid new COVID-19 strain

    Saudi Arabia halts all international flights amid new COVID-19 strain

    Saudi Arabia has halted all international flights and suspended entry through its land and seaports for a week due to the new Covid-19 strain.


    The kingdom is “temporarily suspending all international flights — except in exceptional cases — for a period of one week, which can be extended by another week,” the official Saudi Press Agency said on Monday.


    “Entry to the kingdom through land and sea ports will also be suspended for a week, which can be extended by another week,” SPA added, citing the interior ministry.


    The suspension does not apply to international aircraft currently in the kingdom, which will be allowed to leave, SPA said.


    SPA said passengers who arrived in Saudi Arabia from Europe or any country where the new strain was detected,  starting December 8 will be required to self isolate for two weeks and undergo testing.


    Saudi Arabia’s decision came after several European nations, including Italy, Belgium, France, and the Netherlands have banned flights to and fro from the UK after a report of the mutant strain, which has quickly spread across London and the southeast of England.

    The mutated Covid virus is said to be up to 70 percent more infectious than regular Covid, and have been spotted in Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia,  Belgium and Italy.

    According to British Health Secretary Matt Hancock, the new variant was “out of control.”

    Neighbouring Kuwait also announced a ban on Sunday on passenger flights from Britain over the new strain of the virus.