The Federal Government has extended the closure of airports in the country for another two weeks as parts of measures to contain the spread of Coronavirus in the country.
The Federal Government had on March 23 shut all international airports for one month after the country recorded cases of COVID-19.
The extension, as announced by the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika was necessary as it would be counter-productive to open the airspace when the President Muhammadu Buhari had extended the lockdown in Lagos, Ogun and FCT.
“As a result of the extension on lockdown by Mr President, it is no longer possible for us to open our airspace and airports for normal operations by the 23rd April 2020.
“They will remain closed for a further two weeks. This is subject to review as appropriate.”
However, the government said emergency and essential flights could be operated from any of the airports within the period.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced 38 new cases of coronavirus in the country.
Giving the breakdown via its Twitter handle, the NCDC said Kano State recorded 23 of the 38 cases in the country.
Thirty-eight new cases of #COVID19 have been reported;
23 in Kano
5 in Gombe
3 in Kaduna
2 in Borno
2 in Abia
1 in FCT
1 in Sokoto
1 in EkitiAs at 11:10 pm 20th April there are 665 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria.
Discharged: 188
Deaths: 22 pic.twitter.com/k354y8KS0W— NCDC (@NCDCgov) April 20, 2020
NCDC gave the breakdown as: “23 in Kano, 5 in Gombe, 3 in Kaduna, 2 in Borno, 2 in Abia, 1 in FCT, 1 in Sokoto, 1 in Ekiti.
“As at 11:10 pm 20th April, there are 665 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria.
“Discharged: 188 Deaths: 22”, NCDC tweeted.
