Nigeria postpones international flights resumption date to September, 5

The Nigerian Government has postponed the date for the resumption of international flights to September, 5, 2020.

The announcement was made on Thursday evening by the Ministry of Aviation during the Presidential briefing on COVID-19.

In an announcement on Twitter, the ministry wrote,

Regret to announce that the international flights resumption earlier scheduled for 29th August has been shifted to 5th September 2020.

Breaking: Regret to announce that the international flight resumption earlier scheduled to resume on 29th August has been shifted to 5th September 2020.#PTF on COVID-19#AviationNG pic.twitter.com/obihvYTKRV

— Federal Ministry of Aviation, Nigeria (@fmaviationng) August 27, 2020

Before the new development, international flights were formally scheduled to resume on Saturday, August, 29.

Nigeria suspended all air travel on March 23 to comply with restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus.  

Resumption of flights comes with protocols to assure the progress made in containing the virus is not comprised at airports.

Nigeria wants passengers to take a coronavirus test before their departure and pay for a second test on their arrival in the country.

The government warned that any travelers who manage to skip the tests will be put on a travel watch list.

The federal government also intends to impose a $3,500 fine on airlines that allow coronavirus patients to board planes.