FG Orders Immediate Resumption Of Catering Service On Domestic Flights

In-flight refreshments that had been adversely affected by the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic are to resume with immediate effect.

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, at the briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja on Monday, March 22 disclosed that catering services will be resumed with immediate effect on domestic flights.

The statement which was delivered to newsmen in Abuja by the aviation ministry’s Director, Public Affairs, James Odaudu, quoted the Minister saying that the decision was taken into consideration of the businesses involved in the provision of in-flight refreshments that had been paused as a result of the Coronavirus disease.

The minister said that modalities and protocols for the resumption of the services would be worked out by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and in line with international practices.

Siriki reiterated the plan to resume international flight operations at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu and the Port Harcourt International Airport.

According to him, “members of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 would be visiting the airports for simulation exercises to ascertain their readiness for international operations.”

The Minister revealed further that a technical working group comprising of agencies involved in the facilitation of passengers had been set up ahead of the planned resumption of international operations at the facilities. He said the working group would ensure that all standards required for seamless operations at the airports were put in place for the resumption of international flights.

Speaking on the suspension of Emirates Airlines operations in Nigeria, Sirika said discussions were on to resolve the issues involved. He, however, restated the country’s position on the impropriety of the extra COVID-19 tests the airline was demanding of Nigerian travellers.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari’s personal assistant on social media, Lauretta Onochie, has said the nation’s anti-corruption agencies would probe Nigerians who flaunt lifestyles they cannot afford offline and online.
Naija News reports that Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies are the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as well as the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).