Airports Closure: FG Okays 2 Weeks Extension Over COVID-19
BY VICTOR OSOWOCHI, ABUJA – Distressing news has come the way of air travellers and stakeholders in the aviation industry with the Federal Government on Monday approving another two weeks extension on airports’ closure nationwide
Minister of Avistion, Hadi Sirika said the nation’s airports will no longer reopen for commercial flights on Thursday, April 23, 2030 as earlier envisaged.
Sirika’s announcement of the extension came on the heels of mounting expectations by stakeholders to resume operations after four weeks of inactivity due to measures in place at controlling the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.
According to the Minister, the fresh date being proposed to re-open airport operations is due to the two weeks extension of the Federal government’s declared lockdown in Lagos, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Ogun State.
In a statement issued in Abuja by the Director of Public Affairs, Federal Ministry of Aviation, James Odaudu, the Minister said: “As a result of the extension on lockdown by Mr. President, it is no longer possible for us to open our airspace and airports for normal operations by the 23rd April, 2020.”
He however explained that the new projected date for reopening the airports will still be subject to review by government after due consultations.
Sirika also appealed to air travellers and all stakeholders in the aviation industry to see the extension and other measures initiated by government as necessary sacrifices to safeguard the health and well-being of all Nigerians.
The Federal Government had on Monday, March 23, 2020, announced the closure of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja for one month in the first instance as part of measures to check the spread of coronavirus pandemic in the country.
