29th August Not Cast in Stone for the Resumption of International Flight- PTF Coordinator

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3 years ago Managing Editor: Akin Kola-Akinlade

Boss Mustapha, Secretary to Government of the Federation, SGF. Chairman, PTF On COVID-19

The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has made clarification that, the 29^th August is the deadline the Task Force expects concerned authorities in the nation’s air transport to make their readiness known for consideration by the Presidential Task Force team.

The Coordinator for the PTF, Dr. Sanni Aliyu, made the clarification by saying that, “the date announced by Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, would be for PTF members consideration of resumption of international flights”.

Dr. Aliyu further gave insight into the workings of the PTF before a sacrosanct date is decided, “We will spend a whole day discussing international travel and how this will be done. And if I may clarify, we said from the 29th of August, we didn’t say on the 29th of August”

He said just as prior to the start of domestic flights, the industry regulators and operators were charged to put their acts together within a given period to allow the task force ascertain the level of their preparation, similar thing is expected at least by 29^th August.

Hence he warned that, “don’t come back and say that we promised we will open on the 29th, but that date is not sacrosanct, but we will work towards it”, he said.

Earlier, the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, announced that, the airports had reached advanced stages of preparedness for the resumption of operations.

Sirika had also gone ahead on his tweeter handle @sirika, to announce that international flights would commence on 29^th August, kicking off at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos

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