COVID 19: Domestic Flights Can’t Resume 21 June, Says FG

OLUWATOBI EMMANUEL

The Nigerian government has said that the planned date of 21 June for the resumption of domestic flight at some local airports is no longer feasible.

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, made this known at the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 briefing in Abuja on Thursday.

The Minister represented by the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Musa Nuhu, said, “June 21st is not a feasible date to resume domestic operations.

“The civil aviation authority despite pressures coming from all quarters will not approve the start any day until we are sure and we confirm that we are ready to start in a safe, secure, organised and efficient manner. To do otherwise is disastrous for all of us.

“If we open the industry when we are not ready, and we are guilty of spreading coronavirus, God forbid we have any incident, I believe the government will come hard on us and it is going to be counterproductive and disastrous for the industry.”