The Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, will be shutdown from Monday, March 13. This was announced by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Saturday, March 21. All International flights into the country from the nation’s two main airports, has finally been suspended by the federal government. This is as a result of the newly confirmed Coronavirus cases in the country.
The Lagos and Abuja International Airport, joins three other airports that were suspended from International flight operations. (Create a link for the 3 airport to be shut down story I sent in yesterday). The restriction will last for a month and comes into effect from Monday, March 23 to Tuesday, April 23.
The Director – General of the NCAA, Musa Nuhu, said that emergency and essential flights are exempted from the flight restrictions. Such flights could be operated from any of the airport within that period. Meanwhile, domestic flight operations would continue as normal in all airports in the country.
The shutdown is a necessary measure to limit the spread of the viral disease in the country.
Nigeria, on Friday, increased its considered Coronavirus high-risk countries to 15. They include – China, Italy, Japan, France, Iran, South Korea, Germany, USA, Spain, UK, Norway, Netherland, Switzerland, Austria and Sweden.
Railway To Suspend Transportation.
The fight to curb the spread of the Coronavirus by the Nigeria federal government does not end with flight restrictions.
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has also announced its decision to suspend transportation of passengers from Monday, due to the pandemic. This was made known by the management in a statement signed by the Deputy Director of Public Relations, Yakub Mahmood.
“The board and management of NRC have decided to stop all passengers’ train operation as from Monday, March 23, 2020.
This is in view of reports of the already known Coronavirus (Covid 19) outbreak. Further information on passengers’ train services will be made available in due course to our esteemed passengers”.
How The Cases Are Being Handled.
According to the Minister of Health, Dr Ehanire, “The FCT cases are being treated at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Gwagwalada. While the new cases in Lagos are being treated at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), Yaba.
He further revealed that all new cases have mild to moderate symptoms and are currently receiving treatment.
