Sirika Says Five Governors Were Denied Flight Access To ‘Enforce Lockdown’

Five Governors who wanted flight access since the closure of airports by President Muhammadu Buhari, were denied approval, the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika has disclosed.

Sirika said that three out of the four governors who were denied flight approval were members of the All Progressives Congress.

According to him, two of the governors are from the South-east, two from South-south while one was from North-central.

The denial, he said was part of the efforts to enforce the presidential order and contain the spread of COVID-19.

He, however, noted that 98 percent of the flight approved and those to be approved will be COVID-19 related.

Sirika spoke during the daily press briefing by members of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja.

“However, I want to share with you a discussion I had on twitter with someone when I said we will not be able to open our airport and airspace as a result of the extension of the lockdown for normal operations and someone said; “Kindly stop all the VIPs shuttle going on. It makes no sense to lock citizens up and allow governors to stroll in and out of Abuja.  In the first instance, they carried this virus into Nigeria and now running around is not Okay.” I said to the person that I agree with him but whatever is approved or whoever is approved to fly privately, governor or no governor is on an essential flight and it is addition and 98percent is related to COVID-19.

“There is no exception to governors. I have denied several of such flights. Including two governors from South-south, two from South-east and by the way, three of them are members of the APC and 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.

“Please trust us and bear with us for this period but it will end soon by God’s grace”, he added.