Breaking: FG Extends Flight Ban By Four Weeks Over COVID-19

The federal government of Nigeria has extended the ban imposed on local and international flights by four weeks over the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Odogwublog the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, made this known at a briefing of the presidential task force on COVID-19 on Wednesday, May 6.

Mustapha who is the Chairman of the presidential task force on COVID-19 said after due consultation, the federal government decided to extend the flight ban by four weeks.

His words: “Tomorrow marks the last day for the enforcement of the closure of Nigeria’s airspace to flights. We have assessed the situation in the aviation industry and have come to the conclusion that given the facts available to us and based on the advice of experts, the ban on all flights will be extended for an additional four weeks.

“The Honourable Minister of aviation will give you details during this briefing,” he said.

Meanwhile, two domestic carriers, Air Peace and Aero Contractors of Nigeria had earlier announced the suspension of flight operations indefinitely over coronavirus pandemic. The carriers said they took the difficult decision as part of efforts to assist the government to curb the spread of COVID -19.

Air Peace and Aero Contractors of Nigeria said there had been a slump in passenger traffic in the last three weeks as a direct consequence of COVID-19, saying it was unwise to continue to rake up avoidable costs that airlines could ill afford.

Meanwhile, Odogwublog recalls that the ban was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari to check the spread of Coronavirus in Nigeria.