COVID-19: Oman Bans Flights From Nigeria, 22 Other Countries (Full List)

The Sultanate of Oman has announced that international flights from some countries including Nigeria have been banned until further notice.

A statement issued by the Oman Government Communication Centre said the ban is as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic and necessary measures to curb its spread.

The government statement titled ‘Update on travel restrictions related to COVID-19’ however noted that Omani citizens, diplomats, health staff, and their families are exempt from the ban but will be subjected to necessary health procedures upon arrival.

The statement reads in part: “The Supreme Committee for dealing with COVID-19 and the Civil Aviation Authority has decided to extend the suspension of entry to the Sultanate until further notice for arrivals from the Republic of Sudan, the Federal Republic of Brazil, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the United Republic of Tanzania, the Republic of Siena Leone, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the Republic of India, Islamic Republic Pakistan, People’s Republic of Bangladesh, and the Republic of Philippines, the Kingdom of Thailand, Malaysia, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

“The Supreme Committee has decided to lift the Arab Republic of Egypt from the list of countries from which arrivals are banned. It also decided to add to the list the following countries: the Republic of Singapore, the Republic of Indonesia, the Republic of Iraq, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Tunisia, the State of Libya, the Republic of Argentina, the Republic of Colombia and Brunei Darussalam, and arrivals from any other country if they have passed through any of the aforementioned countries during the previous 14 days preceding their request to enter the Sultanate.

“Starting 5 pm Friday, 9th of July, 2021 until further notice, and remains in effect until further notice. Omani citizens, diplomats, health staff, and their families are exempt from the ban and will be subject to entry procedures adopted by the Sultanate.”

Meanwhile, the ECOWAS Court of Justice has fixed Friday, July 9, for the hearing of the Nigerian government’s application for the consolidation of the four suits relating to the ban on Twitter in the country.

Nigerian government’s lawyer, Abdullahi Abubakar, had filed the application on July 5, a statement by the court’s press unit said on Wednesday.

The statement said the court had to adjourn the hearing of the application because two out of the four parties suing the federal government over the Twitter ban were not represented in court at Wednesday’s proceedings.

Only the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), on one hand, and Media Rights Agenda (MRA) and eight others, on the other hand, were represented by their lawyers.

The lawyers did not object to the respondent’s request for consolidation of the four pending suits.