International Flights: Not All airlines will Operate At Once, Says Sanwo-Olu

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said the activities of airlines operating international flights would be closely monitored to prevent the importation of corona-virus (COVID-19) cases in the state.

Mr Sanwo, who made this known on Saturday while briefing Newsmen at the State House, Marina, noted that not all airlines would be allowed to operate come September 5.

The state governor also revealed that the state government was working with the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, as well as the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to perfect plans for the resumption of international flights at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

Mr Sanwo-Olu noted, “In the course of the week, I would be receiving the management of FAAN (Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria) in my office so that we would review and go over what they have. I would also be going to the airport myself to take a spot assessment in the week to ascertain the physical level of preparedness at the airport so that we would be clear and we would all be on the same page as well as ensure all the protocol that we need for adequate compliance are in place.

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“Going by what is being worked out, there is going to be a phased in-flow of international travels, not all the airlines would be opened up at once, we are are going to be bringing them in on a schedule per week. So, it is pretty much like a measured number. That way, we can actually be able to deal with it.

“Also, the times of arrivals, we would ensure that there are no crowding and backflow of issues. We are working on all these.”

“We noticed that imported cases were beginning to appear again, meaning some foreigners were coming in, so, we needed to be able to track and monitor and be sure that once we are able to manage our own internal affairs, so that we do not have imported cases. So, the protocol for wherever they are coming from and also in the country must be strictly adhered to so that we don’t have imported cases,” he emphasised.