The Federal Government says the June 21 date for the restart of domestic flights in the country is not feasible.
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, made this known at a Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 briefing in Abuja on Thursday.
Recall that we had earlier reported that the PTF said aviation authorities will determine the resumption of flight operations.
PTF coordinator, Sani Aliyu, had on June 1 requested the aviation industry to develop protocols for the resumption of domestic flights anytime from June 21.
But Sirika, who was represented by the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Capt Musa Nuhu, at the briefing on Thursday, said, “June 21st is not a feasible date to resume domestic operations.
“The civil aviation authority, despite pressures coming from all quarters, will not approve the start any day until we are sure and we confirm that we are ready to start in a safe, secure, organised and efficient manner. To do otherwise is disastrous for all of us.
“If we open the industry when we are not ready, and we are guilty of spreading coronavirus, God forbid we have any incident, I believe the government will come hard on us and it is going to be counterproductive and disastrous for the industry.
“We are not too far, we are close but there is a need for timing to ensure that we are ready, positively, absolutely ready to start work.”
The NCAA boss said the Authority has been holding talks with airlines, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, and other stakeholders, adding that feedbacks have been received and concerns are being addressed.
He stressed that inputs are also being received from the International Civil Aviation Organisation, the United Nations agency in charge of civil aviation as well as standard and recommended practices for the sector.
Nuhu noted that recommendations are also being gotten from the World Health Organisation, the International Air Transport Association, the Airport Council International, and the African Civil Aviation Commission.
“We have to adopt all these, it’s not easy; it’s a very complex process. What I can assure is that, the civil aviation authority will only give a go-ahead when we are ready, nothing further.
“We are looking towards the end of this month. Hopefully, by the end of next week, we will submit a report through the Ministry of Aviation to the Presidential Task Force for review. We know the industry is anxious but to do otherwise will be a great disservice and neglect of our statutory mandate from the government of Nigeria,” he added.
