The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja has finally reopened with new procedures in place to ensure passenger safety in line with Covid-19 regulation.
Robots have been deployed by NCAA to guide and screen the temperature of passengers.
The airport also witnessed strict compliance to other safety measures, aimed at curtailing spread of the virus.
Inscriptions to further guide passengers, such as “do not use this seat”, “keep your distance”, were placed on various seats and locations.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that provisions were made for handwash including the provision of alcohol-based sanitisers, temperature checks, as well as strict compliance with social distancing measures of about one metre.
Journalists covering the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, were led on a dry run test from Lagos to Abuja, to witness firsthand the reopening of the aviation sector.
Health checks for COVID-19 safety protocols and screening were also carried out on passengers at the departure lounge.
Passenger seats, which were usually crowded, have been rearranged in compliance with the social distancing rule.
– Robots guide passengers –
Nigeria’s aviation authorities also acquired two profiling robots to process passengers at the departure hall.
The interactive robots are programmed to guide passengers, identify unwanted items and check the temperature of all visitors within the departure, arrival halls.
The interactive robots are programmed to guide passengers
An operator, who sought anonymity, said the robots could perform all necessary and required tasks of passenger-screening.
It would be recalled that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), had a few weeks ago, said that the airports would be reopened for business on Aug. 27, after months of closure following the coronavirus outbreak.
The robots also check the temperature of passengers.