Ebola virus: Nigerian flights to Ghana NOT banned –NCAA, Arik Air

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has described as untrue words making the round that Ghana had banned flights from Nigeria due to the dreaded Ebola virus ravaging parts of West Africa.


According to a THISDAY report, the General Manager, Public Affairs of NCAA said the regulatory authority did not receive any circular from the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) or any government agency in the country as regards any ban on flights.

The Deputy Managing Director and Head of Flight Operations of Arik Air, Captain Ado Sanusi also disclosed that Arik Air has been operating into and out of Ghana, adding that the airline’s flight operated yesterday evening to Accra, Ghanaian capital and another flight was scheduled today, August 2, 2014 from Lagos to Ghana.

Last week government of The Gambia announced a ban on all flights emanating from West African destinations as a step towards preventing Ebola disease from being brought into the country.

Ghana’s decision was reportedly predicated on the detection of and death of Patrick Sawyer in Nigeria as a result of the virus. Sawyer had come in from Liberia but reports had it that he had stop overs in Ghana and Togo before entering Nigeria. Nigeria has however not recorded any Ebola related death since Sawyer’s demise.

A ban of flight between Nigeria and Ghana would have huge adverse effects as the two countries have strong social, political and economic partnerships.