Coronavirus: Cross River Turns Back 35 US Oil Workers, Demands Thorough Screening

The Cross River State Government on Monday turned back 35 American oil workers over coronavirus screening.

The State Government was said to have asked the workers to go for further screening in Lagos or Abuja before they would be allowed in.

It was gathered that they were later taken to Abuja.

A chartered flight said to be from the United States on Monday landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, with the Americans heading to Calabar, Cross River State.

An eyewitness said the Americans came into the country to work with the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation.

According to findings, after screening by officials of the Airport Health Services, the Americans were taken to Calabar onboard an Air Peace chartered flight.

An industry source said the flight was part of the special flights granted permission by the Federal Government to land during the suspension of all commercial and private jets movements in the country due to the shutdown of the international airports over COVID-19.

The source said an approval was given by the Ministry of Aviation before the flight could came.

A circular by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority banning travel until further notice had exempted aircraft in state of emergency, over flights or those operations for humanitarian purposes.

Others exempted included medical and relief flights, alternate aerodrome identified in the flight plan, and technical stop where passengers do not disembark and cargo flights.

Update

The Cross River State Government has dismissed as untrue, news of alleged Airpeace flight carrying 35 Americans or any other flight making a purported landing at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport.

Dismissing the report, Special Adviser to Governor Ben Ayade on Media and Publicity, Mr. Christian Ita, in a statement said: “While there was indeed a curious arrangement to have the flight come to Calabar, His Excellency, Governor Ben Ayade, however, refused outright to allow the airline fly into the state in line with his order to restrict flights as well as other cross border movements on land, air and sea.”