Nigeria’s largest airline operator and Sierra Leone’s official carrier, Arik Air have suspended operations from Nigeria into Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Arik Air is towing this line as a result of the Ebola virus which is rampant in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Suspension of flight suspension takes effect Monday, 28th July, 2014 and is indefinite.
The decision to stop flights between the countries is precautionary, however, Naijalog recalls that the first case of Ebola in Nigeria which was recorded last Thursday, was imported by a Liberian, Patrick Sawyer.
Banji Ola, a spokesman for Arik said, “Arik Air is taking this important step as a concerned corporate citizen bearing the interest of Nigerians at heart. We acknowledge the steps that the Federal Government of Nigeria is currently undertaking to prevent the spread of the deadly Ebola virus; however, we feel especially compelled to take the business decision to immediately suspend flight services into the two Ebola affected countries due to our interest in the wellbeing of Nigerians.”
Ola noted that at the early stages of the contagion’s development across West Africa, the Gambian Government took the proactive decision to stop airlines (including Arik Air) from bringing inbound passengers from Monrovia, Conakry (Guinea) and Freetown into Banjul.
Hence, in line with the actions taken by the Gambian Government, we trust (and are confident) that the Federal Government of Nigeria shall take all steps necessary to control and curtail the spread of the virus. We humbly suggest that as a first step, all inbound flights into Nigeria which originate from any of the Ebola affected countries, be immediately suspended. At Arik Air, our core vision and purpose is, “to provide world-class experiences and services which are safe, reliable and continually contribute towards both improved user quality of life as well as the elevation of Nigeria’s global standing.