Nigeria resumes int’l flights Aug. 29 — FG Says passengers must undergo coronavirus test Welcomes call to reopen tertiary institutions COVID-19 fatalities declining — PTF
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has announced that international flights, suspended by the Nigerian’s aviation authorities due to the coronavirus pandemic, will resume in Nigeria from August 29, 2020.
The minister announced this in Abuja yesterday during the briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
Sirika said like the resumption of domestic flights, the resumption of international flights would begin with Lagos and Abuja airports.
However, PTF National Coordinator, Sani Aliyu, said resumption of international flights on August 29 was not sacrosanct.
“If I may clarify, we said from the 29th of August, we didn’t say on the 29th of August. So, very similar to what we did for the domestic. Don’t come back and say that we promised we’ll open on the 29th. That 29th is not sacrosanct, but we’ll work towards it
“We’ll seriously try and deliver it, but from the 29th as far as the PTF is concern, if aviation comes to us and say they’re ready from the 29th, we’ll say please go ahead. If they come back on the 28th, it’s too early,” Aliyu said.
The Secretary
to the Government of the Federation and PTF Chairman, Boss Mustapha, said the government appreciated the call by the National Association of Nigerian Students for reopening of tertiary institutions.
He said this was in the light of the high level of compliance with the protocols for the reopening of exit classes as recorded yesterday all over Nigeria at the commencement of the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations.
“As a listening government, we wish to state that education is topmost on the priority list and the reopening of our institutions remain critical,within set safety parameters,” he said.
He said the PTF had continued to observe “the noticeable decline in fatalities, high discharge rates and consistent under 500 daily cases for the past four weeks” despite the huge jump in testing capacity and the increase in the number daily tests conducted.
He, however, reminded citizens that Nigeria had not attained the desired level that would enable it make conclusive statements on the rate of infection in the country, “thus, everyone must continue to do that which is giving the nation’s record improvements and desist from actions capable of undermining the successes.”
He said Nigeria should not and would not lower its guard and that people should also improve their compliance to the various protocols at all levels.
He commended the United Arab Emirates for donating 7.5 tonnes of medical supplies and facilitating the return of stranded Nigerians there.
He also appreciated the receipt of additional PPEs from the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association and Messrs Changzhou Sang Ma Education Foundation, a Chinese company.
“Particularly, we remember with deep sense of gratitude, the immeasurable role the late Mallam Samaila Isa Funtua played in facilitating the donation by the Chinese company. May his soul rest in peace,” Mustapha said.
Sirika, in a statement later by the Director Press, Ministry of Aviation, James Odaudu, said all international travelers must take the COVID-19 test close to the date of their travel.
“A portal will also be opened for passengers to pay for another COVID-19 test to be done eight days after arrival in Nigeria,” he said.
He said passengers “will also fill in health questionnaires online, and hand them in at the point of entry, instead of filling the forms on the aircraft or on arrival.”