COVID-19: Nigeria Suspends All International Flights As NRC Sets Stringent Rules For Passengers
Oru Leonard
Nigeria has suspended all international flights into the country, in the wake of Coronavirus spread.
In a memo made available to News Dot Africa, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority sent a memo to all Nigerian Operators and Foreign Operators flying into Nigeria, informing them of the plans to restrict international flights into Nigeria, from Saturday, March 21, 2020.
The memo signed by the NCAA Director General/CEO Captain Musa Nuhu states; “Further to our earlier letter on restriction of international flights into Nigeria, we wish to inform you that effective Monday, 23rd March at 2300Z to 23rd April at 2200Z, Murtala Muhammed Airport Lagos (DNMM) and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja (DNAA) will be closed to all International flights.
“Emergency and essential flights are exempted from this restriction.
“This is in addition to the closure of Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport Kano(DNKN), Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu (DNEN), and Port-Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa (DNPO) effective Saturday, 21 March at 2300Z.
“Henceforth, all airports in Nigeria are closed to all incoming International flights with the exception of emergency and essential flights.
“Domestic flights will continue normal operations at all airports.
“All airlines are required to submit passenger manifest to Port Health Authorities, prior to arrival of flights into Nigeria.”
Ten new cases of Covid-19 that were recorded in the country are Nigerian nationals with have travel history to Canada, France, Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom.
In same vein the Nigerian Railway Corporation has put further measures in place to prevent the decease from spreading.
Deputy Director Public Relations of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Yakub Mahmood confirmed that Board of NRC reviewed the situation and decided to provide passengers train services with the listed conditionalities; passengers to provide full names, address, date of birth and means of identity.
The NRC enjoined all passengers to please cooperate with any other measures put in place to protect ourselves from ourselves.
