An empty KLM flight from Amsterdam has arrived Lagos to evacuate some Dutch nationals in Nigeria.
Victoria Shinaba, manager, Murtala Muhammad International Airport, (MMIA), explained that all permissions were sought and approved by the federal government for the operation.
She said the pilot and crew would not be allowed to disembark, adding that after facilitation, the nationals would be escorted to the aircraft to board.
In a letter dated 23rd March 2020, from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA) made available to BusinessDay, the NCAA gave clarification of flight operations that would be allowed into Nigeria due to COVID-19 pandemic.
In the letter, the NCAA confirmed essential flights to include aircraft in a state of emergency, overflights, operations related to humanitarian aid, medical and relief flights, alternate aerodrome identified in the flight plan, technical stop where passengers do not disembark, cargo flights and other safety-related operations.
Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha
Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers.
She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay.
She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos.
As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender.
She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies.
Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the
prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category.
She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category.
She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations.
Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.
