Airport reopening: Reps call for adherence to safety protocols

The House of Representatives has stressed the need for passengers to strictly observe the safety protocols put in place by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for the restart of air transport services.

Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Nnolim Nnaji stated this at the Abuja Airport on Monday when he led members of his committee to assess the state of airport authority’s preparedness for the resumption of fights on Wednesday, July 8, 2020.

He advised the front line staff to be courageous in the performance of their duties stressing that nobody should be above the observance of the guidelines set by the Ministry of Aviation and the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, (NCDC).

He warned that coronavrus is real and no individual no matter how highly placed should jeopardize the safety guidelines put in place to ensure that air travellers are protected from contacting the deadly virus.

 Nnaji who seized the opportunity of the visit to also address some airline staff present at the airport and urged them to be strict in doing their work, assured them that all arms of government and the Presidential Taskforce, (PTF) would back and protect them in doing the right thing.

Nnaji who represents Nkanu East/West Federal Constituency of Enugu State in the Federal House of Representatives equally appealed to Nigerians to cooperate with the airline staff and workers at the airport by adhering to the  guidelines at all times.

He further pleaded with the airlines to be considerate in their fare adjustments so that many Nigerians can afford to travel by air adding that reopening of the airports would no doubt help stimulate the national economy which he said has suffered a great deal under COVID-19 pandemic.

The members who were taken through the whole boarding and arrival processes by the Managing Director of FAAN, Captain Rabiu Yadudu  commended the Ministry of Aviation and its agencies for their level of preparedness for the resumption of fight operations.

The FAAN Managig Director equally expressed appreciation to the committee and the entire membership of the National Assembly for their supports to the industry whenever the need arose.