The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has apprehended over 90 persons at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, for engaging in unlawful acts.
Spokesperson for FAAN, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, said in a statement on Monday that the suspects arrested were employees of the Nigerian Aviation Handling company Plc (NAHCO), Patovilki Nigeria Limited, Lakewood Services, and other airport staff.
She said the suspects were picked up for carrying out illegal activities including, but not limited to faking COVID-19 test results, touting, unauthorised entry, trespass, illegal facilitation, forgery, loitering and theft..
Of the total arrested, she said 59 were handed over to the airport police command in Abuja for prosecution, while 30 were handed over to the police in Lagos for same.
Yakubu advised persons without lawful businesses to stay off the airports.
“FAAN will like to use this opportunity to warn those that do not have any legitimate business at the airports, as well as airport staff carrying out illegal duties to desist from such acts, as the Authority will not hesitate to arrest and hand over such individuals for prosecution,” said.
Meanwhile, NAHCO has thrown its weight behind the arrest saying “we commend the move.”
In a statement issued in Lagos, the ground handling firm said: “NAHCO is a responsible player in the industry, as such, will not condone any form of illegality.
“We urge FAAN to always carry us along in this fight. The current move will in no small measure help our industry to grow as well as bring sanity to the airports.
“We will however engage FAAN, to provide us the details of our personnel alleged to be involved, to enable us to activate our internal disciplinary process as we currently do not have any clue as to who is involved, when, and in what capacity.”
