Hope Dashed For Prospective Covid 19 Returnees From Canada, Says Foreign Affairs Ministry

By Uche Mbah

The Canadian government has finally and firmly refused the airlifting of Nigerians willing to return home due to the impact of COVID 19, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said.

The Nigerian government had contracted Air Peace ltd to help to evacuate Nigerians in the North American Country.

This refusal by the Canadian government has resulted in the cancellation of the contract the Nigerian government has with Air peace. Air peace had won the contract by beating other airlines in providing a pricing schedule no other could match.

In a letter dated May 20, 2020, with reference number NHS/OTT/ADM.56/I emanating from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry said the Canadian government has unfortunately reverted with what appears to be a final refusal.

“ The best and overall well-being of Nigerians stranded in Canada were the overriding considerations of the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa seeking a solution to their predicament,” the letter said. “The aim was to come up with the most convenient and cost-effective arrangement possible bearing in mind that the many were stranded here through no fault of their own and some had become cash strapped.

“The mission, therefore, engaged a number of airlines and eventually came up with an arrangement and pricing structure with Air Peace which no other airline was able to match. You will recall that in our public notice of 12^th May 2020, the High Commission announced that the Canadian government had expressed reservations concerning the granting of necessary clearance/landing permit for Air Peace to fly into Canada, due to safety concerns.

“Kindly be informed that after a protracted engagement, the Canadian government has unfortunately reverted with what appears to be a final refusal. As a result the Air Peace arrangement is canceled. During the negotiation with Air Peace the issue of refunds was addressed in the event that the flight did not hold due to unforeseen circumstances and as such, everyone will get refunds for their tickets from Air peace as agreed.

“In the meantime, the Nigerian High Commission is working assiduously to secure an alternative arrangement to get you home as soon as possible, safely and at the least cost possible. Further updates will be communicated in due course.”

Though Airpeace was designated as the carrier of choice in these evacuations, Canada seem to be reluctant in dealing with the Nigerian airline, preferring to deal with Ethiopian airline instead, regardless of the fact that the evacuations are meant for Nigerians. Ethiopian Airlines has been airlifting other African Countries from Toronto and Cagliari.

Air peace was the airline of choice when Israelis were evacuated from Nigeria recently.

Meanwhile, while Canada is forcing passengers to book through Ethiopian airlines, Nigerians who initially booked through Air peace are visibly frustrated at the treatment.