Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has rebuked Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers for ordering the arrest of two pilots of Caverton Helicopters.
Speaking on Wednesday, Sirika said aviation matters were on the exclusive list of the Federal Government.
Wike had accused Caverton Helicopters of violating the lockdown order imposed to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
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The pilots were subsequently arraigned at a magistrate’s court on Tuesday and remanded in prison till May.
The airline, however, said aviation authorities granted it permission to fly into Rivers.
Addressing a press briefing organised by the presidential task force on COVID-19, Sirika accused security operatives who arrested the pilots on the governor’s order of “displaying ignorance”.
He said the Federal Government would do everything legally possible to secure the release of the pilots.
Wike had in the past accused the Federal Government of neglecting Rivers in the COVID-19 intervention funds.
The Rivers state government says it will close its borders from Thursday to prevent coronavirus (COVID-19) from spreading to the state.
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Speaking on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, Nyesom Wike, the governor, said the restriction will affect air, land and sea borders.
The governor said no passenger will be allowed into the state from the airport.
Wike said no vehicle will be allowed to enter or go out of the state, and that security agencies have been mandated to enforce the directive.
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