This was contained in a statement signed by the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, on Monday.
DAILY NIGERIAN recalls that international flights had been barred since March 23 following the Coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic across the globe.
According to Mr Sirika, four flights would land in Lagos and Abuja airports each, with strict protocols.
He, however, did not say where the flights would be coming from.
“It is safe to fly, if we observe all those protocols in place,” Mr Sirika said at a briefing in Abuja.
“Africa’s most populous nation, which recorded its first confirmed coronavirus case in late February, now has 49,068 confirmed cases and 975 deaths.
“It resumed domestic flights on July 8 and there had been no confirmed virus transmissions on flights.
“However, passengers on international flights will need to provide a negative COVID-19 test in order to board and pay for another test after they arrive in Nigeria.
“They will also be required to fill in an online health questionnaire and present it to authorities when they land.
“Those currently returning to Nigeria aboard repatriation flights are required to self-quarantine for 14 days, and authorities retain passports for that period,” the aviation minister explained.
Meanwhile, the Coordinator of Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Dr Sani Aliyu, says the Aug. 29, resumption of international flights, as announced at the PTF COVID-19 briefing, is not sacrosanct.
Mr Aliyu, who made the clarification, at the PTF on COVID-19 briefing on Monday in Abuja, explained that the date would be for consideration of resumption of flights.
According to him, Aug. 29 is not sacrosanct but if aviation authorities meet the criteria for resumption on the 29th, they will be given the green light to resume.
The coordinator said: “We will spend a whole day to discuss international travel and how this will be done.
“We are grateful to CACOVID and it’s partners for helping to support this process, because it would help us to expedite action of the airport.
“And if I may clarify, we said from the 29th of August, we didn’t say on the 29th of August. So, very similar to what we did for the domestic flights.
“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.
“We will seriously try and deliver it but from the 29th as far as the PTF is concerned, if aviation comes to us and say they are ready from the 29th, we will say please go ahead. If they come back on the 28th, it is too early.”
