Curfew: Airlines suspend operations at Murtala Mohammed Airport

Flight operations at the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos have been suspended following the 24-hour curfew imposed in the state by Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor.

Airlines with scheduled flights are already notifying passengers of the development.

African World Airlines (AWA), in a tweet, advised passengers to either rebook their flights or request a refund.

“Due to the 24-hour curfew imposed in Lagos from 1600hrs today, we have canceled flights AW 222/AW223 on Tuesday, October 20, 2020, and AW 208 / AW 211 on Wednesday, October 21, 2020,” it wrote.

“Passengers are urged not to proceed to the airport for these flights and contact us for rebooking/refund.”

Due to the 24-hour curfew imposed in Lagos from 1600hrs today, we have cancelled flights AW 222 / AW223 on Tue 20OCT20, and AW 208 / AW 211 on Wed 21OCT20.

Passengers are urged NOT to proceed to the airport for these flights and contact us for rebooking / refund.

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— Africa World Airlines (@flyafricaworld) October 20, 2020

Delta Airlines Flight 248 from ATL United States to LOS, Nigeria, and return Flight 249 from LOS to ATL cancelled due to unrest and curfew in Nigeria's most populous city Lagos.

— Edward (@DonKlericuzio) October 20, 2020

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Henrietta Yakubu, the general manager for corporate affairs at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), told TheCable on Tuesday that all airlines have to obey the governor’s directive.

“The governor has imposed a 24 hours curfew. Any person or airline will have to respect the order from above,” Yakubu said when contacted for comments.

Sanwo-Olu imposed the curfew, which took effect from 4pm on Tuesday after violence broke out in various parts of the state amid #EndSARS protests.

Hoodlums exploited the situation unleashing attacks on protesters and security formations.

On Monday, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the state police command were attacked by hoodlums.

And on Tuesday, a police station at Orile-Iganmu was set ablaze.

International flights resumed at the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos on September 5 after COVID-19 flight restrictions were lifted.