The Federal Government has given the go-ahead to all airports, including private airports and airstrips in Nigeria to be reopened to domestic commercial flights.
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, made this known on Monday during a briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja.
He said, “Regarding approvals for flights within the country – domestic approvals. So, all airports in Nigeria are now opened for domestic flights including those that are in private charter operations will no longer need approvals from us to operate within domestic airports in all government-approved airports and in all government-owned airports.
“However, those airports that are private airports, which I called government-approved airports that are private, the operators should check the safety status with NCAA (Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority). Such airports like Jalingo, Uyo, Asaba, Gombe, Nasarawa, Damaturu, Osubi, etc.
“So, you won’t need any approvals from the minister but you should kindly check with these kinds of airports regularly with the NCAA which is normal.
“However, all flights out of the country and into the country that are private charter will still need approvals for those kinds of flights including technical stops will be needing approvals,” he said
Recall that the federal government had earlier reopened 14 local airports when domestic flight operations resumed in July after months of closure occasioned by the lockdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The government also approved the reopening of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja as well as the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos for international flight operations earlier this month