NewsCoronavirus: Nigeria To Close Abuja, Lagos International Airports In Days- Aviation Minister

Coronavirus: Nigeria To Close Abuja, Lagos International Airports In Days- Aviation Minister

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SAN FRANCISCO, March 20, (THEWILL) – Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika says the International wings of the airports in Lagos and Abuja will be closed in the coming days as the country steps up efforts to curtail the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

Nigeria had Thursday announced the closure of three other international airports – Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, and the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa – and restricted flights from 15 countries – China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Japan, France, Germany, the United States, Norway, Sweden, UK, Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland.

The ban will affect about 30 foreign airlines flying into Nigeria’s airspace.

Sirika, told correspondents in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, that the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, would formally make the announcement at the appropriate time.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus: Lagos, Abuja Remain Open As FG Shuts Down Port Harcourt,…

“We are going to shut all international airports but domestic operations will not be disrupted. The shutdown will be in a few days, just to allow the necessary Notice to Airmen to be issued accordingly,” he said.

Nigeria has so far recorded 12 confirmed cases of the virus but public health officials sampled by THEWILL believe that the numbers are significantly higher because testing is not easily available.

The first coronavirus case in Nigerian soil is an Italian male, who arrived Lagos on a Turkish Airways flight. He has been treated and presently tests negative, officials said. Most of the other cases were also arrivals into Lagos from Western countries. At least 1300 persons have been placed on surveillance as at Friday.

The federal and some state governments have shut schools while come companies have directed staff to work from home for safety.

Lagos State, Nigeria’s commercial capital Friday shut all nightclubs, bars, lounges, social events, business and public events as well as religious gatherings in response to the deadly disease.

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