The shutting down of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA),
Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja to
scheduled international flights will take effect Monday March 23, 2020.
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), which announced the
shutting down of the airports temporarily as part of measures to contain
the spread of COVID-19 , however , said there will be exception for
emergency and essential flights.
Spokesman of the NCAA , Mr Sam Adurogboye said despite the shutting
of the two airports for scheduled flights, the regulator will issue
flight permits for ” emergency flights ” covering Air Ambulances and
persons with medical and health conditions who would need aircraft to
ferry out of the country.
Adurogboye said the exemption will also cover ” essential flights
“, for aircraft seeking to make technical landing in Nigerian airports,
should such aircraft develop technical / mechanic problems, when it is
overflying Nigerian airspace.
He said that though the shutting of Lagos and Abuja International Airports was for four weeks, it was subject to review.
He explained that the shutting down of the two airports was a
follow up measure to the closure of Mallam Aminu Kano International
Airport, Kano, Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu and the
Port-Harcourt International Airport.
He further stated that henceforth, all airports in Nigeria are
closed to all incoming international flights with the exception of
emergency and essential flights, adding that domestic flights will
continue normal operations at all airports.
The NCAA chief directed all airlines to ensure they submit passenger
manifest to Port Health authorities prior to arrival of flights into
Nigeria.
He clarified that the flight restriction to passengers coming
from United States (U.S.), United Kingdom , China, Italy, Iran, South
Korea, Spain, Japan, France, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands ,
Switzerland, Austria and Sweden became necessary as a containment
measure.
He explained what the restriction of such passengers entailed.”
Passengers that have visited any of the affected countries will on
arrival at the airport be supervised for self isolation.
Meanwhile, National Union of Air Transport Employees ( NUATE) has
expressed its concerns over the heavy toll COVID -19 was having on
global aviation.
In a statement, its National President, Comrade Ben Nnabue Covid –
19 has ravaged aviation through high exposure of airlines and airport
personnel to danger.
He said: “The break out and wild spread of corona virus has taken a
heavy toll on aviation globally. From high exposure of airline and
airport personnel, through the near total collapse of international
travel, to the closure of some airports, it is very obvious that
aviation has taken the hardest hit from this pandemic.
“The colossal losses arising from this state of affairs has created
a very serious labour challenge. As the airlines, especially the
international carriers, and the companies dependent on them count their
losses,
“All stakeholders must share the worry of the affected
aviation companies. We truly sympathise with their situation. And there
is a genuine fear that some of the smaller entities might be unable to
survive the crush. This type of circumstance calls for sober thoughts.
On the other hand, it cannot be denied that the workers of
these companies are real human beings with real human needs. The
unfortunate situation of their companies does not diminish the bills
they have to bear.
If anything, the psychological trauma imposed by this
condition may likely lead to health issues and cause greater spending.
This unfortunate, paradoxical inter-relationship between the companies
and their workers truly begs for understanding of the deepest kind.
Source: The NATION
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