The Federal Government has announced the resumption of international flights after it felt the airports had reached advanced stages of preparedness for the resumption of international flight operations. Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, on Monday, made the announcement during the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19. He earlier tweeted the same news on his Twitter handle. According to the statement, the international flights will resume August 29 from Lagos, the country's commercial hub, and Abuja. Travel within other cities will follow at a later date, the ministry said.
The minister said as it was done with the resumption of domestic flights across the country, the international flights would commence with two major airports, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.
The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, however, said that the date was not sacrosanct.
Mr. Sirika stated that as a result of resumption, all evacuation flights which were introduced across the country in the wake of the ban on international flights would end on August 25.
He said emphasis will be placed on the observation of all the safety and technical guidelines as prescribed by global and health authorities, which would be communicated in due course.
"I am pleased to announce the resumption of international flights from the 29th of August, 2020.
"It will begin with Lagos and Abuja airports as we did with the domestic flight resumption. Protocols and procedures will be announced in due course. We thank you for your patience.
"A portal will also be opened for passengers to pay for another COVID-19 test to be done eight days after arrival in Nigeria.
"They will also fill in health questionnaires online and hand them in at the point of entry, instead of filling the forms on the aircraft or on arrival.
"Nigeria closed its domestic and international airports March 23, leaving room for only evacuation flights for Nigerian citizens stranded in countries like the United States," Sirika said.