* Pix source: PM News Nigeria
…As Passengers Mask, Sanitise, Observe Social Distancing
…Everything Going As Planned, Optimistic There Will Be No Issue—Shin-Abba
As the Federal Government opens the airspace today for domestic operations, four airlines; Air Peace, Arik Air, Max Air and Ibom Air resumed flight services at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Domestic Terminal 1 and the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2(MMA2), Lagos.
When Abelnews took a-see -for –yourself visit to MMA1 terminal also called General Aviation Terminal (GAT), where Air Peace and Arik Air are operating from, passengers were seen with their face masks on and also observing the social distancing protocol.
At the front of the departure hall, sanitiser was strategically placed for passengers, security men and anybody coming into the hall to sanitise their hands, after which their temperature are taken in line with the COVID-19 pandemic protocol.
There were also markings on the ground outside the hall and inside the hall by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to indicate social distancing.
Still at the entrance of the arrival hall of terminal 1, passengers luggage and any person (s) carrying bags are disinfected before he or she is be allowed to take the luggage or bag in.
At the MMA2, operated by a private entity; Bi-Courtney Aviation Services (BASL), the situation was not different as Max Air and Ibom Air officials were seen attending to their passengers, who have bought tickets and ready to proceed to board.
Meanwhile, Air Peace today operated three flights from the Murtala Muhammed Airport Domestic Terminal 1, while Arik Air also operated the same number of flights from the terminal.
Speaking to journalists at MMA Terminal 1, the Regional Manager, South West, FAA, Mrs Victoria Shin-Aba she was happy that everything went as planned, assuring Nigerians and the travelling public that they are safe at airports.
“I am Delighted and very happy that the skies are open again. We can go back to work and everybody can go back to their businesses. What really gave me joy mostly is that everything went well , everything went as planned .writing a plan is different from implementation .You can write a very beautiful plan, you can write a very beautiful check-list but when it come to actualizing it , a times it becomes an issue. But I realised that all that was put in place everything worked well and went according to the way it was planned. So, I am very happy,” She said.
On fears that that the strict measures introduced at the airports will be relaxed considering the way we do things (Nigerian factor) and the assurance she would give to passengers that the airport is safe, Shina-Abba said, “I want to assure them that so many hard work have gone into this and one of the criteria of opening the airport is having implementation and compliance committee in place. So we have a committee in place that is to ensure compliance .So I want to assure Nigerians and the travelling public that they are safe with us and that all that we have put in place we are going to make sure we carry it out to the end. There is a committee in place and there will be spot check too just to ensure that what we put on paper is what we are carrying out and it is what we are doing.”
Speaking on her impression of the turnout of passengers today, She said, “Yes very impressed. The Arik Air that left for Abuja left with almost full capacity. I have not heard from Air Peace, I want to believe it will be the same. People are eager to go out, people want to travel and people want to do business. So I am very optimistic we are not going to have any issue. Today we are having three flights; Arik three and Air Peace three.”
