The international skies appear to soon be open to airlines in Nigeria as National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Sani Aliyu, asked aviation authorities and airline operators to begin resumption process.

This news came on the back of revised guidelines and protocols for curbing the spread of the Coronavirus disease.

Sani said, “For international travel, we have made recommendations to the aviation industry to commence the process for opening international airports provided all existing international and local prevention guidelines and COVID-19 (protocols) are in place.”

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He asked that passengers for international flights arrive three hours before departure.

Opening the doors for international travel does present its opportunities and risks alike.

The country’s economy has been badly hit by lack of international trade and relations, causing the aviation losses while affecting other sectors as well.

However, international travel opened the world to the spread of the virus, leading to a pandemic and the eventual cancellation of all travels.

The primary risk would be the invitation of more foreign trouble, hence the emphasis on protocol and safety guidelines.

Domestic flights resumed operations on July 8 after a three-month ban.

No dates have been announced yet for the international flights resumption, but the call for preparation does indicate that it could be sooner.

By Daniel Ojukwu