Nigeria has placed ban on Lufthansa, KLM , Air France, amongst other notable international airlines, as the country commences international flights from the 5th of September, after about six months closure.
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, while providing details of the reopening of international flights in Abuja, on Thursday, also added the Royal Moroccan Airways, Angolan Airways and the South African Airways which were not not approved to come into the country
Nigeria however allowed the British Airways, Egypt Air, Emirates, Delta Airlines, Virgin Atlantic airways, Qatar Airways and Air Peace. Others include, the Ethiopian Airline, the Middle East Air, Turkish Airlines and the Africa World Airlines, (AWA)
Sirika also released the time table for Saturday flights, with BA,Delta, Emirates, Kenya, Middle East, Qatar, scheduled to fly from Lagos. The flights from Abuja involve BA, Emirates, AWA, Middle East and Turkish Air
He however warned that any airline that does not comply with protocols will have their passengers sent back at the expense of the airline with a fine of $3,500.
He disclosed that tests taken earlier than four days to the flights will not be accepted, adding preferably, tests should be taken 72 hours before every flights and informations provided by passengers must be authentic and verifiable, for the purpose of contact tracing.
Federal government also announced the movement of the current nationwide curfew from 10pm to 12 midnight to 4am, effective from 12 midnight of today, Thursday 3rd September, 2020.
President Muhammadu Buhari extended the mandate of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 , for another 3 Months to the end of December, 2020, ahead of the expiration of their mandates on the 17th of September.
The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha stated this at the regular nationwide briefing on Thursday in Abuja
Mustapha said President Buhari “considered the fact that the six-month mandate of the PTF will expire this month and has therefore extended it till the end of December, 2020.
The objective of the extension is to amongst others, sustain a robust multi-sectoral national response; that will successfully navigate the community spread stage of the pandemic; Strengthen our health system and other socio-economic infrastructure to enable them meet our national aspirations.
The government also opened cinema houses and urged schools to commence preparations for reopening.
The National Coordinator of the PTF COVID-19, Sani Aliyu who provided further explanations on the new protocols, said the Federal government is modifying the curfew to commence from 12 midnight to 4 am nationwide effective 12: 00 this night.
This however does not apply to people on essential services and people traveling or returning from abroad.
“The key need when it comes to aviation is the mandatory use for people who are coming into the country to have valid negative Covid-19 PCR result before boarding and this need to be valid within 96 hours.
“For land and rail transport there are no more limitations on inter and intra state travels but service providers must abide by stipulation from Federal Ministry of Transportation and ensure that PPEs are used and where applicable distancing is observed.
Federal government also said it would allow the private sector to determine the optimum working capacity within their offices while ensuring enough physical distancing and preserving the healthcare of workers.
“For the public sector we are maintaining the restriction and encouraging the workers to at home policy for staff below level 12.
“In terms of commercial spaces including markets, we are removing all restrictions on all opening days but stores owners must take responsibility by abiding with non- pharmaceutical interventions and policies to safeguard the staff and patrons of their facilities.
He announced that the hospitality and entertainment industry, will continue to remain open but observe all non- pharmaceutical interventions.
“Amusement parks, Gyms and Cinemas can open but a half capacity. Event Centres can open but not indoors. Eateries and restaurants can only open for outdoor services and we will make sure this is complied with. Bars and night clubs remained close till further notice.
He noted that state can provide additional guidelines to minimize risk.
“The NYSC is to consolidate on safety measures currently being put in place and start preparing for reopening of orientation camps when educational institutions opened. We are in the process of developing strict guidelines to avoid outbreak of COVID-19 when this process starts.
Speaking on elections, he stated that the PTF will continue to work closely with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to ensure that the election process does not pose risk to the spread of COVID-19. INEC will ensure compliance with the publicized policy of condctuing safe election in the context of COVID-19 in particular, the mandatory use of facemask. No facemask no voting, etc.
“Educational institutions should begin process of potentially reopening within this phase. However, we strong recommend that states conduct risk assessment to ensure all schools are at level of compliance and create a monitoring mechanism to assess this level of compliance. If there is reopening of schools it must be in phases.
