Aviation Ministers in Africa have unanimously rejected the planned imposition of the vaccine passport rule on air travelers.
They described the move as unacceptable as it is tantamount to discrimination against certain groups of population, especially on the African Continent which still has considerable number of its citizens who are yet to receive the vaccines.
They also described the proposal as going against the intent of the Chicago Convention on the need to preserve friendship and understanding, reduce threat to general security and establish international air transport based on equal opportunity, operated soundly and economically.
The African Ministers Delegation’s position was made known last Wednesday in a presentation to the recent International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) High Level Conference on Covid-19 by Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika.
Rather than imposek vaccine passports, the African delegation recommended that States party to the Convention on international civil aviation should continue to minimize the risks during travel by ensuring compliance with existing multinational treaties, international frameworks, guidelines, and recommendations.
