The constant violation of COVID-19 protocols at Nigerian airports by VIPs has become a source of worry for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) as it condemns the governor of Adamawa State, Mr. Ahmadu Fintiri and eight others for flouting the laid down guidelines at the Port Harcourt International Airport.
It was gathered that the governor and his aides who arrived at the airport on July 14 shunned all the layers of bio-security recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organization ICAO (ICAO) and domesticated by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to stem the spread of the coronavirus disease.
FAAN said in a tweet that the governor and his entourage had on arrival at the airport refused to observe airport security and public health travel protocols put in place to protect all air travellers.
FAAN which described the act as “irresponsible” also said the team that came to receive them drove right through the barricades up to the terminal building ignoring traffic and aviation Security instructions.
“The management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) hereby strongly condemns the conduct of the Governor of Adamawa state Alh Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, who arrived Port Harcourt international Airport aboard aircraft 5N-IZY, at 17:08 hrs on 14th July 2020 with eight others, and who flagrantly refused to observe the Airport Security and Public Health protocols as directed by the Federal Government through the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on #COVID19 by refusing to have his temperature checked, or being sanitised by the health officials.
“His whole entourage of eight did exactly as he did. The team that came to receive them drove right through the barricades up to the terminal building ignoring traffic and Aviation Security instructions.
“This irresponsible act endangers all other airport users, it is unacceptable, and as such it has also been duly escalated. FAAN hereby cautions all airport users, especially our esteemed VIPs, to please respect the presidential directive by observing airport security and public health travel protocols put in place to protect all air travellers against acts of unlawful interference, infection and the spread of the covid-19.”
Also in a tweet, FAAN said the governor of Oyo State, Mr. Seyi Makinde observed all protocols subjecting himself to health checks at that airport on the same day.
The Fintiri breach was the second in five days.
On Saturday July 11, the former governor of Zamfara State, Mr. Abdulaziz Yari violated the COVID-19 safety protocol at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.
The former governor who was reported to have described himself as a “VIP” was said to have forcefully pushed an officer who was trying to disinfect his luggage.
FAAN, while condemning Yari’s action, said his behavior was capable of endangering other airport users.
“The management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) hereby strongly condemns the conduct of the former Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari who blatantly violated the public health procedures (COVID19) on travels at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on Saturday, July 11, 2020.
“He refused to adhere to the protocols and procedures put in place by the federal government through the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on #COVID19 by forcefully pushing away an officer of the environment department when he insisted that his luggage must be disinfected,” said FAAN in a tweet on its official twitter handle, @FAAN_Official.
