The Aviation Safety Roundtable Initiative (ART), industry think tank, has condemned the cancellation of the planned evacuation of Nigerians by Air Peace, as Canada refused to give the indigenous carrier approval to operate into the north American country.
ART in statement signed by its spokesman, Olu Ohunayo, said, “ART hereby registers its displeasure at the botched Air Peace Airline evacuation flight for stranded Nigerians in Canada due to the prevalent global lockdown caused by the Corona Virus ( *COVID* – 19 ) pandemic. We reject in totality the nebulous safety concerns conveyed by the government of Canada.
“ART views this action not only as an unfriendly act but an unwarranted discriminatory and anti- competition acts bordering on avoidable aeropolitics.”
The group made up of experts in the aviation industry also said, “The demand of our common humanity at these challenging times posed by the ravaging COVID- 19 requires the maximum cooperation of all. We therefore request our government, especially the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Aviation to stand firm against this discriminatory and unfriendly act. Air Peace remains Nigeria’s flagship duly authorised by Nigeria for the evacuation mission of her distressed citizens in Canada.
“In the diplomatic spirit of respect and cooperation among nations, the ART requests that Nigeria should persuade Canada to review her position and bring succour to the stranded Nigerians in her domain.”
