DOMESTIC flights as scheduled resumed operations on Wednesday, July 8, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos though with a low turnout of passengers.
However, the federal government has reiterated that top government officials and Very Important Persons, VIPs, would no longer come near the airport terminals with their aides or Personal Assistants.
The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika who gave the directive ahead of the resumption of operations stated that only the person travelling will be allowed within the terminal in keeping with Covid-19 regulations,
While he said that normal sitting arrangement will be maintained because Covid-19 protocol risk of contamination is reduced while sitting in the cabin, however, to reduce contamination level, food will no longer be served on domestic flights.
To ensure strict compliance, the minister said federal government has set up Covid-19 protocol enforcement team to ensure that people adhere to all the safety protocols against the spread of Covid-19 at airports.
It is equally worth noting that the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has procured sophisticated and search rescue equipment. These equipment are being distributed among the nation’s rescue co-ordination centres in Lagos and Kano, alongside rescue sub-centres such as Abuja, Port Harcourt, Maiduguri, Enugu, Sokoto and Ilorin, to enhance search and rescue efficiency.