Nigeria delays resumption of international flights by one week

…International flights to resume September 5 now

The resumption of international flights earlier slated to begin August 29 has been postponed to September 5.

It was disclosed on Thursday by the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Musa Shuaibu Nuhu, during the Presidential Task Force COVID-19 briefing in Abuja.

Nuhu stated the airlines and airports were ready to operate, other non-aviation logistics resulted the one-week extension.

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“We have other non-aviation logistics we are still working on, mostly the COVID-19 protocol tests and online platform. We need to get these ready,” he said.

Nuhu described September 5 as a “sacrosanct date”, noting that “the initial announcement was anytime from the 29th.”

“In due course, we will be announcing the protocols for the resumptions and we will be giving further details,” he said. “Hopefully early next week, we will release these.”

Nigeria began the restrictions of international flights in March as part of efforts to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus, which further compelled the country to eventually experience lockdown.

The shutdown, which included ban on inter-state travels and closure of public places and schools, contributed to the decline of the country’s economic growth.

Domestic flight operations resumed in July while international flights scheduled to follow.

The postponement came barely 48 hours to commencement of international flight expected to start from Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport in Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.