Domestic flights suspension: Car hire operators, others seek palliatives
As activities at the local and international airports across the country came to a temporary halt due to the suspension of flight operations, car hire operators, airport vendors and small business owners have called on the Federal Government to provide them palliatives.
They said while the partial nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus is in the best interest of every Nigerian, survival would be difficult without the provision of any palliative measures.
Daily Trust reports that the federal government had last week ordered the shutdown of all airports to international traffic amidst the rising cases of COVID-19 pandemic.
As from midnight of today, the nation’s airspace and airports would be virtually shut down as domestic operators have suspended flight operations in response to the partial nationwide lockdown.
There was a lull at the international wing of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) as a result of the knockdown, when our correspondent conducted on the spot assessment of the aviation sector’s business activities
Alhaji Ubaidah Abdullahi, a bureau de change operator at the MMIA, said all the operators have deserted the vicinity of the international airport following the suspension of flight operations.
Majorly hit by the shutdown are car hire operators at the airport; majority of whom depends on the business for making ends meet and feeding their families and dependents.
Yesterday, there were skeletal activities at the local wing of the airport as the car hire operators made the last set of trips in preparation for the shutdown, which takes effect later today.
But the operators’ concerns are about their survival in the period of the shutdown. They are however asking the government to provide them some “palliatives”.
Chairman of Airport Car Hire Association of Nigeria (ACHAN) at the MMIA, Mr. Afolabi Soele urged the federal government to provide some stimulus for its members and others affected by the shutdown to survive in the period of the suspension.
He said, “We just have to obey the order of the federal and state governments. Again, there is nothing we can do. It is when there are flights that airlines would bring passengers that we convey. I only pity those that got their vehicles on hire purchase, how will they survive?
“With what we are hearing, the American government is providing some palliatives for their citizens to keep them in their houses. I think the same thing can be done in Nigeria.”