FG acquires robots to screen passengers at Abuja airport

In order to prevent further spread of COVID-19 into Nigeria, the federal government has reportedly acquired robots to screen passengers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja ahead of the planned reopening of the Nigerian airspace.

The robots were unveiled on Saturday, June 27, when the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) conducted simulation exercise at the Abuja airport to test all the protocols designed to contain the spread of Covid-19 ahead of flight resumption.

The machines would also be used to clean surfaces at the airports. The interactive robots would reportedly be used to check the temperature of passengers and identify them on arrival at the airport.

The machines would also be cleaning the area and surfaces at the airport and can be programmed to identify unwanted items.

Hadi Sirika, the minister of aviation, speaking after the simulation exercise noted that intending passengers on international flights may have to be at the airport five hours before their flight’s takeoff.

A twitter user Zakari Ibrahim who shared photos of the newly acquired machines thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the initiative.

A non-profit organization, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), also shared a video on social media of the said COVID-19 fighting robots.

In another report, 145 Nigerians stranded in Sudan amid the coronavirus pandemic have been evacuated by the federal government.

The disclosure was made by the minister of foreign affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, who said the evacuees departed Sudan at 9 am and arrived Nigeria at 12.45 on Friday, June 26.

The minister said the Nigerians landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. He wrote on Twitter: “Air Sudan conveying 145 Nigerians departed Khartoum, Sudan at 9.00 am and arrives Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at 12.45 pm today, Friday, 26, June 2020.”