Stakeholders reject airport shutdown over COVID-19 3rd wave

Stakeholders in the aviation sector have objected to the outright closure of airports over fear of the third wave of COVID-19.

Daily Trust reports that the Nigerian Academy of Medicine had in an urgent advisory advised the federal government to shut the country’s international airports for at least two weeks to avoid the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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In the advisory issued on Sunday, April 25, President of the Academy of Medicine Specialties of Nigeria, Prof. Oladapo Ashiru, noted that the transmission of the third wave was still active but at a low level.

He said a team from the academy has found five sequences of the India B.1.617 in the country, specifically in Edo and Osun states, adding that a new B.1. 1.318 variant that emerged in Nigeria with major characteristics of other VOCs was spread out of the country in January this year and was creating havoc in Mauritius.

The stakeholders objected to the outright shutdown of the airports and advocated for the strengthening of the protocols.

Assistant Secretary of Aviation Roundtable Mr. Olumide Ohunayo said instead of shutting down the airports completely, government can ban passengers from India and Pakistan.

“Then we tighten the procedure at the airports; probably introduce the rapid antigen test that we have been resisting before for those coming in from high-risk countries. That is what I would suggest rather than close the airport for services,” he said.

Also speaking, a former commandant of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Group Capt. John Ojikutu (rtd), said international flights should be restricted to two airports.

He said, “Limit access only to two airports Lagos and Abuja but ensure you have adequate test equipment and skilled manpower of necessary health workers in sufficient numbers at the two airports 24 hours.

“Any foreigner that tests positive should be returned to his point of departure on the same aircraft of his inbound flight. Any national that tests positive should be taken to the quarantine centre.”

Also speaking, President of Aircraft Owners Association, Capt. Alex Nwuba, said shutting down the airports is “problematic.”