This archive report was first published on 8 July 2020.
On July 8, 2020, Nigeria resumed domestic flights after a three-month suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The country's aviation sector had been severely impacted, but the resumption of flights brings hope to the economy.
Initially, airports in Abuja and Lagos were the first to open, with five of the country's nine commercial airlines resuming scheduled flights. The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had postponed the resumption of domestic flights from June 21, awaiting all stakeholders to adopt safety measures.
According to Aviation Security consultant Captain John Ojikutu, opening five airports first was a safe way to resume services, allowing easy tracking and tracing of positive cases in domestic flights. Airports in the country are enforcing standards to protect travelers, including markings on the floor to ensure social distancing, decontaminating bags, checking passengers' temperature, and installing new handwashing facilities.
Airlines in the country will also offer Personal Protective Equipment to all staff and passengers. Speaking on the preparedness of their airline, Dana Air Media and Communications Manager Kingsley Ezenwa said: 'All Personal Protective Equipment has been made available for all staff, crew and passengers who might not come around with one. All recommended training and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for staff have also been updated and concluded.'
However, many of the country's private operators were denied resumption, following alleged non-compliance with safety regulations. Speaking on the safety protocols, spokesperson for Nigeria's Federal Airports Authority said, 'We are not out to punish anybody. We are interested in their well-being, which is why we have put all of these things in place, so we expect them to please abide by all of these procedures.'
Further, the country is yet to release N27 billion ($69.6 million) to bail out the country's aviation sector. The question of the vacant middle seat remains unanswered, with Consultant Ojikutu believing that airlines should not expect half passenger capacity on their fleets.
