Nigeria to open Kano and Port Harcourt international airports as it lifts more restrictions

NIGERIA'S federal government is planning to open the Kano and Port Harcourt international airports later this month as part of the ongoing easing of Covid-19 restrictions introduced in the wake of the global pandemic.

Like every other nation, Nigeria shut her airspace in march when the pandemic struck, closing down airports and grounding all flights. In September, however, there was a partial lifting of these restrictions with the Lagos and Abuja airports opened to allow for some international travel.

Despite Covid-19 cases still on the rise in several countries, Nigeria has by and large been spared the worst of the virus, so the government is lifting more restrictions. Musa Nuhu, the director-general of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), said that the Kano and Port Harcourt airports will be reopened when the twin issues of ICT infrastructure and adequate number of staff to man them have been provided.

Mr Nuhu said the reopening of the two airports became necessary to decongest the Lagos and Abuja facilities and subsequently make travels more convenient for passengers. He added that the NCAA was waiting for the Coalition Against Covid-19 to provide the needed ICT infrastructure while the Port Health Services were already working to provide an adequate number of staff.

However, Mr Nuhu did not, disclose the exact date of the planned reopening, although he said it would be soon. It is expected to be this month, however, as Nigeria is gradually returning to some form of normality.