Catering services, hitherto suspended at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic are to resume on domestic flights immediately, the Federal Government declared on Monday.
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, disclosed this at the briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja.
He said the decision was taken in consideration of the businesses involved in the provision of in-flight refreshments which had been adversely affected by the suspension.
A statement issued in Abuja by the aviation ministry’s Director, Public Affairs, James Odaudu, stated that the Minister, however, noted that modalities and protocols for the resumption of the services would be worked.
Sirika said the modalities would be rolled out by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and would be in line with international practices.
He also reiterated the plan to resume international flight operations at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu and the Port Harcourt International Airport.
According to him, members of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 would be visiting the airports for simulation exercises to ascertain their readiness for international operations.
Sirika also stated that a technical working group comprising of agencies involved in the facilitation of passengers had been set up ahead of the planned resumption of international operations at the facilities.
He said the working group would ensure that all standards required for seamless operations at the airports were put in place for the resumption of international flights.
On the suspension of Emirates Airlines operations in Nigeria, Sirika said discussions were on to resolve the issues involved.
He, however, restated the country’s position on the impropriety of the extra COVID-19 tests the airline imposed on Nigerian travellers.