Scheduled resumption of Enugu international flights is not feasible for 3 May 2021 as previously announced, Enugu Metro findings show.
Aviation Minister, Sen. Hadi Sirika, had assured the nation that he will authorise resumption of international flights in three airports.
He listed the three facilities as Aminu Kano International Kano, Port Harcourt International, and Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.
Enugu Metro checks however show that Ethiopian Airlines, the lone international carrier plying the route, is eager to resume but has not received a greenlight.
Ethiopian’s manager in Nigeria, Senait Ataklet, told House Aviation Committee Chair, Rep. Nnoli Nnaji, that they are anxious to resume.
She said they are waiting for the Minister’s directive and would want to be the first to land in Enugu.
Ataklet also described the Enugu route as an important one that the airline would not want to undermine.
This air of uncertainty also pervades the international section of the airport when Enugu Metro visited the facility yesterday.
Most security and Immigration officials shrugged when asked if they were getting ready to receive flights on Monday 3 May.
“We don’t know what is happening,” a saleslady in one of the duty shops said.
Sen. Sirika had said that there was no ulterior motive to the decision to continue to bar the airports from international flights.
“There were no ulterior motives for not reopening the … other airports. There are processes to be followed,” he said.
“The airports were shut down, like others across the world. We closed our airports as that was where the virus came into the country.
“We reopened some after many considerations with the other stakeholders.”
The dates for resumption of flights to Kano and Port Harcourt have passed while Enugu is scheduled for 3 May.
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