The Federal Government has shifted the resumption date for the commencement of international flights in and out of Nigeria from August 29, 2020, to September 5, 2020.
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, had earlier announced on August 17, 2020, that international flights would resume on August 29, following pressures from the public for the resumption of the flights.
But the Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Musa Nuhu, has announced that international flights would not resume as earlier announced.
He revealed that September 5, 2020, was picked as the new date for international flights resumption, stressing that there were non-aeronautical logistics that needed to be put in place before the country’s airspace is opened to international flights.
“Regret to announce that the international flight resumption earlier scheduled to resume on 29th August has been shifted to 5th September 2020,” the Federal Ministry of Aviation also tweeted.
Nuhu said, “Since the announcement by the honourable minister of aviation a few weeks ago that international flights will resume anytime from 29th of August, the aviation sector has worked assiduously to be ready for this date.
“The aviation sector including the airports is ready to resume on the 29th. However, we have other non-aviation logistics we are still working on mostly to do with the COVID-19 protocols, tests, and online platforms.
We need to get this in place so that we will have a smooth and efficient resumption of international flights without difficulties for all the passengers.
“So, for this reason, unfortunately, I have to let you know that the resumption date has been shifted by one week to the 5th of September which is now a sacrosanct date.
The initial announcement was anytime from August 29. Now we have fixed a date – 5th of September to ensure that resumption of international flights.
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“In due course, once these logistics are done, we will be announcing the protocols for the resumption and also we will be giving further details on the principle of reciprocity we have mentioned. So, hopefully early next week, we will release this.”
The FG had on July 8 reopened the airspace and airports for domestic flight operations after shutting in March to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
When Sirika announced that international flights into and out of Nigeria would resume on August 29, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 said that the date was not sacrosanct.
He further disclosed that like it was done during the resumption of domestic flights across the country, the international flights would commence with two major airports.
He named the airports as the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
Sirika remarked that emphasis would be placed on the observation of all the safety and technical guidelines as prescribed by global and health authorities, which would be communicated in due course.
