The Minister of
Aviation, Hadi Sirika, says the ministry has denied the flight requests of
several governors, since the closure of the airports and the lockdown order by
President Muhammadu Buhari as a result of the COVID-19.
Aviation, Hadi Sirika, says the ministry has denied the flight requests of
several governors, since the closure of the airports and the lockdown order by
President Muhammadu Buhari as a result of the COVID-19.
He said this on Tuesday during the briefing by the
Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, while responding to questions about some
ongoing flights. The minister also stressed that governors are not exempt from
the lockdown and no-flight orders. According to him, 98% of any ongoing
flights, are either essential flights relating to the COVID-19, or repatriation
requests.
Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, while responding to questions about some
ongoing flights. The minister also stressed that governors are not exempt from
the lockdown and no-flight orders. According to him, 98% of any ongoing
flights, are either essential flights relating to the COVID-19, or repatriation
requests.
“Every single flight that you would
see, every single flight that we would approve would be an essential flight and
98% of them would be connected to COVID-19,” he said.
see, every single flight that we would approve would be an essential flight and
98% of them would be connected to COVID-19,” he said.
“A few others, maybe 1% might be either a repatriation
request from a diplomatic community which must go through foreign affairs or it
might be repatriation due to illness of another kind.
request from a diplomatic community which must go through foreign affairs or it
might be repatriation due to illness of another kind.
“And those repatriations will also need
the stamp of a teaching hospital.
the stamp of a teaching hospital.
“There is no exception to governors. I
had denied several of such flights, including two governors from south-south
and two from the south east and by the way, three of them are members of the
APC and I think one is from north-central.
had denied several of such flights, including two governors from south-south
and two from the south east and by the way, three of them are members of the
APC and I think one is from north-central.
“Once you see a flight approved, it is
diligently done and it must be essential, COVID-19-related or some other
flights like essential cargo that would bring in medicines or equipment or
something related to our well being like food,” Sirika added.
diligently done and it must be essential, COVID-19-related or some other
flights like essential cargo that would bring in medicines or equipment or
something related to our well being like food,” Sirika added.
