Nigeria’s airports will remain shut for two more weeks, the Ministry of Aviation said on Monday.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Director of Public Affairs in the ministry, James Odaudu.

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, was quoted as saying , “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 23rd April, 2020,”

President Buhari had on Monday, April 13 extended a lockdown in Lagos and Ogun states as well as the Federal Capital territory Abuja by two weeks.

Ahead of the lockdown, the international airports in the country had been shut as part of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

Despite pushing back the reopening of the airports in view of the lockdown extension, the aviation minister said the decision is subject to review as appropriate.

The minister appealed to air travellers and all stakeholders in the aviation industry to see the current situation as sacrifice necessary to safeguard the health and well-being of the people, with the hope that the pandemic will be short-lived.