Here's Why FG Postponed Foreign Flights Resumption To September

The resumption of international flights has been shifted by the Federal Government after it was discovered that some non-aviation logistics are not prepared for the resumption. This forced the government to extend the restriction on foreign flights.

The ban on international flights had begun in late March 2020, making it five months since foreign flights have been allowed to operate in Nigeria's airspace. The government had announced that the ban will be lifted on August 29, 2020, but the restriction has been extended for one week.

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The extension was announced by the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority NCAA, Musa Shuaibu Nuhu. He said airline companies are ready for resumption, but other stakeholders of the Aviation industry were not prepared for the August resumption date.

"We have other non-aviation logistics we are still working on, mostly the COVID-19 protocol tests and online platform. We need to get this ready.” Nuhu said during the daily briefing of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 in Abuja on Thursday, August 27.

The new date for international flight resumption is now September 5, 2020. While stating that the new date was sacrosanct, Nuhu added that “In due course, we will be announcing the protocols for the resumptions and we will be giving further details. Hopefully early next week, we will release this.” he said