As Nigeria reopens her international airports to receive foreign flights, the Federal Government has banned KLM, Lufthansa and Ethihad from coming into the country.
Also, the Federal Government has extended the tenure of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) till the end of this year.
On the reopening ceremony of the Lagos and Abuja airports for international flights, Minister of Aviation, Hadi Siriki, named British Airways, Emirates, Ethiopian and Turkish airlines among the airlines that are allowed to come into the country.
He also said that passengers coming into the country must produce laboratory results showing they tested negative for Coronavirus (COVID-19) not more than four days before their departure date.
The decisions were announced at Thursday’s briefing by the PTF chairman and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha. He said that the initial tenure of the Task Force, which was to end on September 17th, was extended by President Muhammadu Buhari to enable the work of the PTF continue.
Mustapha also announced that the fourth phase of the COVID-19 lockdown commences 4th of September with National Coordinator, Dr Sani Aliyu, stating that during the fourth phase, curfew would be reviewed from the present 10pm – 6pm to 12 midnight to 4am.
Also, there would be no restriction of any type in movement within Nigeria while the private sector would regulate the work time and environment for their workers in line with the COVID-19 regulations.
However, Dr Aliyu said the restriction in the public sector would remain that is, only workers on level 12 and above would be required to go to offices.
Continuing on the requirements for international flights coming into the country, Sirika said that the list of laboratories approved for the COVID-19 tests would be made available on the website of the PTF.
He also announced that any airline that violates the requirements would pay a fine of $3,500 while any passenger who did not Undergo the test would be subjected to 14 days compulsory quarantine on arrival.
Also on arrival Nigeria, all passengers would face screening to ensure they are not COVID-19 carriers.