Nigeria has shut down three international airports as part of measures to contain the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.
The Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano, Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, and the Port Harcourt International Airport in Rivers have all been shut down indefinitely.
This Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Musa Nuhu, who made the announcement on March 19 said the shutdown order kicks into effect on March 21.
He added that the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, and the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja will remain open, but no flight operations will be allowed from the 13 coronavirus high-risk countries.
Nigeria had on March 18 banned travellers from 13 high-risk countries – China, Republic of Korea, Spain, Italy, Iran, Japan, France, Germany, USA, UK, Switzerland, Netherland, and Norway. All the affected countries have recorded at least 1000 cases within their borders.
Nigeria currently has 12 active cases of coronavirus with most of the positive cases are of people with history of travel from high-risk countries.
