LAGOS, July 30 – The Nigerian government has suspended all ASky Airlines’ flights for flying an Ebola virus victim into the country. The airline last week flew a Liberian infected with Ebola into Lagos where he later died, Xinhua news agency reported.
ASky Airlines is an important player in East, West and Central Africa and operates 80 flights to Lagos and Abuja every week. Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority acting director-general Benedict Adeyileka announced the government’s decision on Tuesday.
“The west African nation regulatory authority had to take action to protect Nigerians from the Ebola virus currently ravaging some parts of Africa,” he Adeyileka said ASky Airlines’ authorities had been asked to explain issues concerning the trip but they failed to offer any conclusive or substantial evidence on the matter.
“The airline manager did not demonstrate any capacity to be able to prevent a reoccurrence or possible transportation of Ebola victims into Nigeria,” he said. Adeyileka has directed the Directorate of Air Transport Regulation to write a letter of investigation to Asky Airlines.
The Civil Aviation Authority will write to other airlines operating in and out of Nigeria to ensure they put in place necessary preventive measures during passenger screening.
-BERNAMA
