The Minister of Aviation, Sen Hadi Sirika has confirmed the shutting down of all international airports in the country, including the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos (MMIA) and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja (NAIA).
This is in order to mitigate against further spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.
The Minister made the disclosure while briefing state house correspondents at the Aso Rock, after Friday prayers, When the journalists asked him if he is going to close the international airports completely, the minister responded:
“Yes, we are going to shut all international airports” He however added that “domestic operations will not be disrupted”.
In the effort to completely stop the spread of the virus in the country, the minister was quoted saying : “when you want to catch a fish, empty the water.”
He was asked when the total shut down will occur and he responded, “You know there is a Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha in place, information will come from there at the appropriate time. But the shutdown will be in a few days, just to allow the necessary ‘Notice To Airmen (NOTAM)’ to be issued accordingly.”
The country has already ban flights from 15 countries, which were classified as high-risk states as far as the COVID-19 cases are concern.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has already restricted international flight operations to Lagos and Abuja from 21 March, 2020.
