Coronavirus: Lai Mohammed gives reasons for delay in flight restrictions

The Minister for Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has given reasons why the Federal Government is delaying in the implementation of flight restrictions.

Nigeria issued a travel ban on Wednesday to 13 countries: China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Switzerland, Japan, France, Germany, United States of America and Norway.

The ban which was given to the countries due to coronavirus takes effect on the 21st of March.

Lai Mohammed who addressed newsmen after Wednesday's Federal Executive Council meeting explained the reasons for the delaying in issuing flight restrictions in regards to the ban,

He said, “There is what is called NOTAM – Notice To All Airmen. If you want to issue a kind of restrictions like this you give notice more than 24 hours to all airmen so that they will know when to position their flights and for safety and security reasons.

“For instance, if an aircraft has taken off now you cannot ask it to go back mid air.”