By Olaoye Ademola
NIGERIA: The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has announced commencement of flight operations in five airports on June 21.
The announcement was made via a letter by the Director-General, Captain Musa Nuhu on Tuesday.
The listed airports for flight operations are Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport, Abuja, the Omagwa International airport, Port-Harcourt Mallam Aminu Kano international airport, Kano and the Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri.
The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 announced on Monday that airlines could resume flight operations as from June 21st.
In a letter to accountable Managers of all domestic and foreign airlines in the country dated 1st June, 2020 with ref NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/121, Captain Nuhu listed 5 airports to be opened with the gradual start of Operations to include, “Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport, Abuja, the Omagwa International airport, Port-Harcourt Mallam Aminu Kano international airport, Kano and the Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri.”
The letter states that, “other airports will be added gradually after a review and assessment. All flights to any of the airports outside the 5 approved to open shall comply with the existing COVID-19 protocols for approvals “.
The NCAA boss in the letter stresses that the closure of Nigerian airports to international flights will continue until date of resumption is announced.
The letter also states that Emergency and essential flights are exempted from the restriction and shall comply with the existing COVID-19 protocols for approvals.