Director-general of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA),Musa Nuhu confirmed this in a statement released on Thursday March 19.

The affected airports are Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano; Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu; and the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa and their closure will take effect from Saturday March 21.

Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos will be allowed to operate but flights from the 13 COVID-19 (Coronavirus) high-risk countries will not be allowed in.

The General Manager, Corporate Affairs of FAAN, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, gave the assurance in a statement issued in Lagos on Monday, saying that in preparation for the season and beyond, FAAN had beefed up security at all airports, especially the major international gateways in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano.

The statement reads: “We are intensifying our efforts at improving facilities and infrastructure to ensure maximum comfort for all airport users.

“At the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and Port Harcourt International Airport, the recently commissioned brand new terminals are fully ready to play host to our esteemed passengers in safe, secure and very comfortable ambiences.

“At our premier airport, the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, the VIP lounge has been renovated to enhance passengers’ comfort.

“The carousels are working optimally, amidst other facilities’ upgrade currently ongoing

“The stories were similar in all other airports, as the Authority had put in place facilities, procedures and systems to ensure maximum comfort, safety and security of airport users during the season and beyond.

“FAAN will like to use this opportunity to appeal to passengers to please get to the airports early to conclude all check-in procedures in good time, so as to avoid the experience of missing their flights.

“This is important because of the heavy passenger traffic that is usually the experience around this time and also due to ongoing construction works around the Lagos and Abuja Airports.”

Yakubu added that FAAN would continue to deliver on its core values of safety, security and comfort.