The federal government has extended the closure of airports in the country by another two weeks as the battle against the coronavirus pandemic rages.
Aviation minister, Hadi Sirika, who disclosed this Monday on his twitter handle. He said that the airports would no longer open for commercial operations on Thursday, April 23, 2020 because of the extension of the lockdown in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as well as Lagos and Ogun States.
Sirika said, “As a result of the extension on lockdown by Mr President, it is no longer possible for us to open our airspace and airports for normal operations by the 23rd April 2020.
“They will remain closed for a further two weeks. This is subject to review as appropriate,” he stated.
The nation’s major airports are in Lagos and Abuja.
According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on Monday, the country has confirmed 665 cases of the lethal virus in the country.
22 COVID-19-related deaths have been recorded, including the chief of staff to the president, Abba Kyari, who died on Friday after testing positive for the virus upon his return from overseas.
President Muhammadu Buhari had extended the closure to all local airports in the country, while announcing 14-day lockdown in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun States on March 29.
On April 13, 2020, Buhari extended the lockdown in the affected states and the FCT by another two weeks.
The Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja are two major entry points into Nigeria.
