By Adelola Amihere
Nigerian airports earlier shut down as part of efforts to control the spread of coronavirus in the country will no longer be reopened by the 23rd April 2020 as earlier projected the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika has said.
Recall that the federal government had announced the closure of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja on March 23rd 2020, for one month in the first instance as part of measures to combat the coronavirus scourge.
In a statement signed by the Director, Public Affairs, James Odaudu, the Minister who disclosed this in Abuja on Monday however stated that the new projected date of resumption of airport operations is consequent upon the two weeks extension of the lockdown by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The statement read, “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.
“The airports will remain closed for a further 2 weeks, which is however subject to review as appropriate.”
He therefore appealed to air travellers and all stakeholders in the aviation industry to see the current situation as sacrifices necessary to safeguard the health and well-being of the people, with the hope that the pandemic will be shortlived.
