Minister of foreign affairs, Geoffrey
Onyeama, clarified why the attempt to evacuate Nigerians from Canada had been
postponed.
Onyeama, clarified why the attempt to evacuate Nigerians from Canada had been
postponed.
Air Peace flight was expected to
evacuate 200 Nigerians from Canada on Thursday, but the airline confirmed in a
statement on Wednesday that the flight had been cancelled.
evacuate 200 Nigerians from Canada on Thursday, but the airline confirmed in a
statement on Wednesday that the flight had been cancelled.
The management of Air Peace wishes to
announce that its evacuation flight to Canada previously scheduled for May 14,
2020, has been postponed due to logistics issues as communicated to the airline
by the Nigerian High Commission in Canada, the statement by Air Peace read.
announce that its evacuation flight to Canada previously scheduled for May 14,
2020, has been postponed due to logistics issues as communicated to the airline
by the Nigerian High Commission in Canada, the statement by Air Peace read.
Once the issues are resolved with the
Canadian authorities and a new date is issued by the High Commission, we shall
duly communicate same to the public.
Canadian authorities and a new date is issued by the High Commission, we shall
duly communicate same to the public.
Clarifying the postponement of the
flight on Thursday, Onyeama, said the airline was denied landing rights by the
Canadian authorities.
flight on Thursday, Onyeama, said the airline was denied landing rights by the
Canadian authorities.
In fact, this is the case that the
Canadian government refused landing rights on the ground that this particular
Nigerian airline did not have a license to make commercial flights to that
country and was not licensed to that country for commercial flights, “he
said.
Canadian government refused landing rights on the ground that this particular
Nigerian airline did not have a license to make commercial flights to that
country and was not licensed to that country for commercial flights, “he
said.
Our high commissioner in Canada is
negotiating with the Canadian government on this issue, and we hope that the
decision will be overturned.
negotiating with the Canadian government on this issue, and we hope that the
decision will be overturned.
The argument he makes, which is a
strong argument, is that this is not a normal commercial flight to Canada to
carry passengers, but that this is an emergency flight and that there is a
distinction between the two. The talks are still continuing and we are
optimistic that there will be a successful result.
strong argument, is that this is not a normal commercial flight to Canada to
carry passengers, but that this is an emergency flight and that there is a
distinction between the two. The talks are still continuing and we are
optimistic that there will be a successful result.
