The Federal Government has extended the closure of airports in the country by two weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, disclosed this on Monday.

The Federal government had on March 23, shut all international airports in the country for one month.

Subsequently, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had extended the closure to all local airports in the country while announcing total lockdown in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun States on March 29.

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Despite the closure of these airports and all others in the country to commercial flight operations, the government had said emergency and essential flights could be operated from any of the airports within the period.

While disclosing the extension of the current closure, Sirika said the airports would no longer open for commercial operations on April 23 due to the extended lockdown in the three cities.

He said, “As a result of the extension on lockdown by Mr President, it is no longer possible for us to open our airspace and airports for normal operations by the 23rd April 2020.

“They will remain closed for a further two weeks. This subject to review as appropriate.”

The Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja are the two major entry points into Nigeria.