The Federal Government has extended the closure of airports in the country by two weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, disclosed this on Monday.
The PUNCH had reported that the FG shut all international airports in the country on Monday, March 23 for one month.
Subsequently, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had extended the closure to all local airports in the country while announcing 14-day lockdown in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun States on March 29.
Buhari, on April 13, had extended the lockdown in the three states by two weeks.
The Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja are two major entry points into Nigeria.
Despite the closure of these airports and all others in the country to commercial flight operations, the government had said emergency and essential flights could be operated from any of the airports within the period.
But announcing on Monday via Twitter, the aviation minister said the airports would no longer open for commercial operations on April 23 due to the extended lockdown in the three cities.
He 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.
“They will remain closed for a further two weeks. This is subject to review as appropriate.”
According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control as of Sunday night, there were over 600 confirmed cases of the lethal virus in the country.
Over 20 COVID-19-related deaths have been recorded including the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, who died on Friday after testing positive for the virus upon return from overseas.
FG extends closure of airports by two weeks
By Faith Yahaya, Abuja
The Federal Government has announced extension of airports by two weeks.
Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, disclosed this in Abuja.
The airports, which were initially shut down as part of efforts to control the spread of coronavirus in the country, were projected to be reopened by April 23, 2020.
The Nation reports the Federal Government had announced closure of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja on March 23rd 2020 for one month in the first instance as part of measures to combat the coronavirus scourge.
Sirika explained the new projected date of opening of airport operations is consequent upon the two- week extension of the lockdown by President Muhammadu Buhari.
These were contained in a statement in Abuja on Monday by the Director Public Affairs of the Ministry, James Odaudu.
“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”.
The Minister also explained that the new projected date of reopening is subject to review.
He however appealed to air travellers and all stakeholders in the aviation industry to see the current situation as sacrifices necessary to safeguard the health and well-being of the people with the hope the pandemic will be shortlived.
By Kayode Oyero