The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji has prevailed on the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 to consider partial opening of the airports to unlock the economy.
The House noted that as the Ministry of Aviation and its agencies are planning a gradual return to full flight operations in the country, Hon. Nnaji has enjoined the federal government to ensure that at least one airport is reopened immediately in each of the six geopolitical zones of the country for that purpose.
The committee chairman who stressed that the nation’s economy need to be immediately unlocked further added that in order to curtail the post economic impacts of the corona virus, a guided and gradual opening of the air transport sector was desirable to refloat the economy.
He suggested that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN) and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA) should come up with a well designed procedure and standard operational procedure, (SOP) in line with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, (NCDC) established guidelines on safety.
He observed that opening of an airport for partial flight operations in each of the political zones of the country would give all zones a sense of belonging and ensure equity and fairness.
Nnaji who represents Nkanu East/West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives also advised that the appropriate Covid-19 disinfecting, testing and sanitizing equipment be installed in each airport in the country to enable government fight the spread of the virus and restore Passenger confidence.
He noted that air transport remains the stimulating agent to economic development and therefore could not continue to remain in comatose any more.
