The Federal Executive Council, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday approved N654million for the procurement and rehabilitation of COVID-19 screening machines at the nation’s airports.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who disclosed this at the end of the meeting in Abuja, said the approval followed the presentation of a memo to the Council by the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika.
He said: “The Minister of Aviation also presented a memo seeking approval for the rehabilitation of the various screening machines nationwide at the cost of N654 million.
“You would notice that with the incident of COVID-19 pandemic, a new protocol sanctioned by International Air Transport Association and other aviation authorities has now come into our airports which entails more of social distancing.
“So, you need more points to screen passengers and their luggage. So this is what has necessitated for the rehabilitation of those screening machines that have broken down.”