FG Shifts Resumption Of International Flights To September 5

President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has announced the postponement of the resumption of international flights till September 5th, 2020.

Recall that the Federal Government had earlier announced that international flights would commence operations on August 29th, 2020 at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport in Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

Information gathered revealed that resumption date was shifted with a week to allow the government provide logistics and perfect COVID-19 preventive strategies at entry ports into the country.

The Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Musa Shuaibu Nuh, revealed the news during a Presidential Task Force COVID-19 briefing in Abuja.

He said while airlines and airports were ready to operate, other non-aviation logistics prompted the one-week extension.

“We have other non-aviation logistics we are still working on, mostly the COVID-19 protocol tests and online platform,” he said. “We need to get this ready.”

Mr Nuhu described September 5 as a “sacrosanct date”, noting that “the initial announcement was anytime from the 29th.”

“In due course, we will be announcing the protocols for the resumptions and we will be giving further details,” he said. “Hopefully early next week, we will release this.”