Nigeria is set to reopen its airports for international flights from August 29 subject to observation of protocols to minimize risk of COVID19 infection.
Nigeria had closed its airspace on March 23 leaving only essential international flights such as the evacuation of Nigerian citizens stranded abroad.
In a Twitter update, Nigeria’s Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika said that international flights will begin in Lagos, the commercial hub, and Abuja, the capital, and then follows to the other cities.
Domestic flights resumed on July 8 with the minister reiterating that Nigeria’s international airports are at advanced stages of preparedness. In addition, the minister remains confident that there will be minimal infections associated with domestic flights due to enforcement of safety protocols such as use of masks, hand sanitizers, and social distancing during travel.
The latest data from the Nigeria Center for Disease Control indicate that there are 49,000 coronavirus cases making it the third-highest in Africa after South Africa and Egypt.
Earlier this month, Nigeria extended the nationwide lockdown by four weeks.
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