Ebola: Arik suspends flights to Liberia, Sierra Leone

Arik Air has said it would suspend flight operations to Liberia and Sierra-Leone following the first Ebola virus death officially confirmed in Lagos.

This is disclosed in a statement issued and signed by the airline's Head of Corporate Communications, Mr. Ola Adebanji, in Lagos.

It said the suspension would be in force until further notice.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the first Ebola virus death officially confirmed in Lagos involved a Liberian.

He had flown into Lagos on a foreign airline from Monrovia via Lome in Togo last week.

The statement said the flights suspension decision was a precautionary measure aimed at safeguarding the lives of Nigerians.

“We are taking this important step as a concerned corporate citizen, bearing the interest of Nigerians at heart.

“We acknowledge the steps the Federal Government of Nigeria is currently undertaking to prevent the spread of the deadly Ebola virus,” it said.

The statement said the airline felt compelled to take the business decision to immediately suspend flight services into the two Ebola virus-affected countries.

It said this was due to its interest in the well-being of Nigerians.