National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Dr. Sani Aliyu, has disclosed that June 21 is the tentative date, which the Federal government is considering lifting the ban on interstate travels.
The government, Aliyu said, might end the restriction on interstate travels simultaneously with the reopening of domestic flights in the country.
State governments have shut boundaries across the country since March, as part of measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Aliyu: “When we say from June 21, we mean that we are preparing the aviation sector towards that date.”
He continued: “That date may not necessarily be June 21; it could be June 26, 28, or even July 1.”
He noted that it is inconceivable for domestic flights to resume while all the state boundaries remained locked.
“Once we open up the skies to domestic flights, then we would have to review the arrangements regarding interstate travel because you cannot have a ban on interstate travel and you have people flying from one state to another,” Aliyu reasoned.
Also, the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, said the date for resumption of international flights would soon be announced.
The minister said industry stakeholders should start developing protocols towards flight resumption.
“The aircraft has been parked for three months; we have to ensure that within now and that time, these airplanes are good and safe to fly,” he said.