COVID-19: Government disburses N4bn aviation intervention fund to 18 local airlines

*The Federal Government of Nigeria has shared N4 billion aviation intervention fund among 18 scheduled and non-scheduled carriers in the country

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Though long in coming, in a move to cushion the damaging effects of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the local airlines in Nigeria, the Federal Government has shared the N4 billion aviation intervention fund among 18 scheduled and non-scheduled carriers in the country.

It was learnt that the authorities extended the grant to all operators with valid air operating certificates (AOCs), and was shared according to the size of the carriers.

The parameters, however, made some ‘dead’ airlines beneficiaries of the COVID-19 stimulus package, according to report.

In view of the reported seriousness of the second wave of COVID-19 worldwide, the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has placed a six-month ban on 100 Nigerian passport holders for purported violation of safety protocols at the ports of entry into the country.

Likewise, the Federal Government has published the passport details of 100 travellers, who failed to undergo the mandatory COVID-19 test after returning to Nigeria, thereby placing travel restrictions on them from January 1 to June 30, 2021.

Numbers of the passports were published in a statement by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 Saturday, January 2, 2021.

The PTF said: “Based on Presidential authority, travel restrictions are placed on the following passports due to non-compliance to the mandatory Day 7 post-arrival COVID-19 test.”

The PTF as well confirmed that the affected passengers have been notified and would be prevented from leaving the country during the period.