SAN FRANCISCO, March 21, (THEWILL) – Nigeria has shut the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja for one month effective Monday, March 23, 2020 at 11pm till April 23 at 11pm. They will be closed to all international flights.
The order was announced by the Federal Civil Aviation Authority, FCAA, Saturday just as the Africa’s largest economy announced 10 more confirmed cases of the coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases to 22.
Only emergency and essential flights will be allowed into the airport, Captain Musa Nuhu, CEO of NCAA, said in a memo to all airline operators in the country. “Domestic flights will continue normal operations at all airports,” he said.
Nigeria had Thursday announced effective today 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.
ALSO READ: Nigeria Reports 10 New Coronavirus Cases In Lagos, Abuja
The first coronavirus case in Nigerian soil is an Italian male, who arrived Lagos on a Turkish Airways flight. He has recovered after treatment and presently tests negative, officials said. Another case has also been treated and discharged.
So far, Lagos has 16 confirmed cases, while Abuja, the nation’s capital has 3 cases. Ogun state has 2 while and Ekiti one confirmed case.
All ten new cases are Nigerian nationals and nine of them have a travel history to Canada, France, Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom, Health Minister, Dr. Osagie Ehanire said Saturday.
THEWILL gathered from official reports that at least 1300 persons have been placed on surveillance as at Friday.
The federal and many state governments have shut schools while some companies have directed staff to work from home for safety.
Lagos Friday shut all nightclubs, bars, social and public events as well as religious gatherings to curb spread of the deadly disease.
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