Cancels Hajj, Umrah visits
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has suspended flights from Nigeria due to the new Coronavirus variant, Omicron.
The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) in Saudi Arabia confirmed the flight suspension in a circular to all airlines operating in the Kingdom.
Earlier yesterday, there were unconfirmed reports that there were preparations for repatriating Nigerians in the Kingdom over Omicron.
Since the Kingdom lifted the ban on Nigerian flights, many people, especially from Kano, have visited the country for lesser Hajj, while others are waiting for scheduled dates to visit.
But an official of the Saudi Consulate in Kano, who chose not to be named, told newsmen, yesterday, that there was an order to restrict Nigerian flights in order to check the spread of Omicron in the Kingdom.
An official at the Kano Airport also confirmed that already a circular had been issued that all lesser Hajj trips should be cancelled, due to the development.
However, one of the top Airline operators said he could not confirm the development as two flights, Qatar and Badar Air, left Abuja for Jeddah, yesterday morning.
