The Federal Government has extended the closure of all airports operations in the country by two weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, disclosed this yesterday via Twitter, that 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 subject to review as appropriate.”
The federal government ban all airports operations in the country on Monday, March 23 for one month.
Subsequently, President Muhammadu Buhari, 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.
The president extended the lockdown on April 13, had extended the lockdown in the three cities 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.
By Olaitan Ayoola
