MEA is first international flight to land in Nigeria post-COVID
By Abisola THOMPSON
There was palpable joy on Saturday as the first international flight landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
According to the
News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN), the passenger flight was the first since five months following the closure of the Nigerian airspace due to lockdown occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic.
The flight – Middle East Airline (MEA), which took off from Beirut, Lebanon, made history as the first international flight to land anywhere in the country when it touched down at MMIA at exactly 2.30 P.M
The aircraft was ceremonially welcomed with a water cannon demonstration by the officials of the Aerodrome and Rescue Fire Fighters, a department in the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Also, officials of FAAN, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Port Health Services (PHS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and other relevant agencies were on ground to attend to air passengers brought in by the airline.
On arrival at the terminal, passengers presented their documents, which included the Covid -19 PCR test results for screening by the Port Health Services officials, while their traveling papers, passports and visas where handled by the immigration officials at the airport.
However, there was no much work to be done by the officials on ground as the aircraft landed with just 200 passengers as approved by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19.
The passengers – Nigerians and foreigners, conducted themselves orderly and gently went through the protocols as approved by the PTF.
At the arrival and departure halls of the airport, the arriving and departing passengers observed the social distancing protocols, just as we presently have it on the domestic routes.
Speaking on the procedures, Mr. Abdullahi Usman, the Comptroller, NIS, MMIA, said the process was seamless and passengers were cooperative when traveling documents were requested by the officials.
He explained that on arrival, Nigerians onboard need not fill another travel card, but said when necessary; the immigration service would give them the right form to fill.
He said: “As you can see, the passengers are coming in quantum, not in a mass.
“The control of the passengers started from the disembarkation of the aircraft and you can see it yourself how orderly things have been.
“The procedures remain the same. Social distancing is there. Nigerians have no need to fill another card.
“Once we have any other information to get from them, we will give them another card. We want to ensure seamless passenger clearance at the counters.”
Besides, Mrs. Victoria Shin-Aba, the Regional Manager, South West, FAAN, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and the management of FAAN for ensuring smooth return of flight services on the international scene.
