CORONAVIRUS: Minster gives reasons for delay in implementation of flight ban

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on Wednesday, stated that there is need to notify airmen before the implementation of the flight ban announced by government.

On Wednesday, the federal government announced restrictions of entry into the country for travellers from 13 high-risk Covid-19 countries which included; China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Japan, France, Germany, United States of America, Norway, United Kingdom, Netherlands & Switzerland.

The minister disclosed this while stating the reasons for the delay in flight restrictions at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) Meeting presided over by the President, Muhammadu Buhari.

Read also: Kwara govt shuts schools over fear of Coronavirus

“There is what is called NOTAM – Notice To All Airmen. If you want to issue a kind of restrictions like this you give notice more than 24 hours to all airmen so that they will know when to position their flights and for safety and security reasons,” Mr Mohammed said.

“For instance if an aircraft has taken off now you cannot ask it to go back mid air,”

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