Coronavirus: We Did Not Ban All Flights Into Nigeria – NCAA

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has denied restricting all international flights into the country due to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

NCAA had last week announced restriction on all international flights into the country and called for the closure of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The regulatory body however announced exceptions to the directive on Tuesday in a memo titled, “Update on Clarification of Flight restriction into Nigeria Due To COVID-19 Pandemic,” dated March 23,

Accortding to the body, the restriction would not be applicable to “essential Flights”, including aircraft in state of emergency, over flights, operations related to humanitarian aid, medical and relief flights.

NCAA also listed cargo flights, alternate aerodromes identified in the flight plan, technical stop where passengers do not disembark and other safety related operations.

The body also told both local and foreign operators that any other flight not listed would require the necessary approval from the ministry of aviation, adding that such request should be directed to the minister of aviation, Hadi Siriki.

Update on Clarification of flight restrictions into Nigeria due to COVID-19 Pandemic.#COVIDー19 #TakeResponsibility #CoronaVirusNigeria #CoronaVirusUpdate pic.twitter.com/3mIBmULRiu

— FAAN (@FAAN_Official) March 24, 2020