The federal government on Monday opened all airports including private airports and airstrips for domestic commercial flights.
The minister of aviation, Mr. Hadi Sirika, disclosed at a briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja.
“Regarding approvals for flights within the country – domestic approvals. All airports in Nigeria are now open for domestic flights. Private charter operations will no longer need approvals from us to operate within domestic airports in all government-approved airports and in all government-owned airports.
“However, those airports that are private airports – government-approved airports – the operators should check the safety status with the NCAA (Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority). Such airports like Jalingo, Uyo, Asaba, Gombe, Nasarawa, Damaturu, Osubi, etc.
“So, you won’t need any approvals from the minister but you should kindly check the status of these airports with the NCAA which is normal.
“All flights out of the country and into the country that are private charter will still need approvals including technical stops,” Sirika said.
It would be recalled that the government had earlier reopened 14 local airports when domestic flight resumed in July after months of closure occasioned by the coronavirus lockdown.
The government also approved the reopening of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja as well as the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on September 5 for international flights.
