‘There’s no exception to anyone’ — FG denies flight approvals for govs over lockdown

The Federal Government says it has denied several governors in the country flight approvals due to the ongoing lockdown order in place to combat spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Minister of Aviation, Hadi SirikaUp, disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday during the daily briefing by ministers on updates on COVID-19.

The Minister stated there is need for holistic compliance with the directive regardless of class or status in the society if the country hopes to make progress in the fight against the killer virus.

According to him, “There is no exception to governors. I have denied several of such flights. Including two governors from the South-South, two from the South-East and by the way, three of them are members of the All Progressives Congress. I think one is from North-Central.

“For a flight to be approved, it shows that it is diligently done. It must be essential, COVID-19 related or other essential flights like cargo that will bring in medicines or equipment or other things related to COVID-19 or our whole wellbeing like food.”

Sirika went on to explain that only flights on essential duties are those allowed to move in the country’s airspace.

“Also, some of them could be evacuation flights and those on diplomatic purposes,” he added.