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Business News of Friday, 17 July 2020

Source: www.mynigeria.com

Flout COVID-19 directives and get barred from airports, FAAN tells VIPs

Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Nigeria Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Nigeria

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, has warned all very important personalities that they would face the consequences if they disobey all COVID-19 protocol at the nation’s airports.

This comes after Governor Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State and his entourage allegedly refused to have their temperature checked on Tuesday while former Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State allegedly assaulted an environmental worker enforcing the COVID-19 protocol on Saturday.

Although the two VIPs denied the allegations, FAAN insisted that Fintiri and Yari flouted the guidelines in place for passenger facilitation at the Port Harcourt and Kano airports, respectively.

In a statement on Friday, the Authority condemned their actions again, stating that persons of such calibre risk being denied access to any of its facilities if they flout COVID-19 guidelines again.

FAAN added, “As a responsible institution of the Federal Government of Nigeria, FAAN holds all officials of state in high esteem, and accords them all the courtesies their status deserves. Therefore, FAAN has no personal issues with Alhaji Yari and Governor Fintiri.

“We are simply implementing our standard operating procedures to assure the success of our security and public health protocol. The protocol flouted by both personalities were duly approved by the Federal Government through the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19. They were intended to protect all airport users and to curb the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

“By their actions, the two personalities put at risk not only themselves but also other airport users. These protocols are now part of the new normal all over the world, and no person, no matter how highly placed, is exempted from them, else he would be denied access to our facilities.

“Our esteemed government officials and other very important personalities should not only comply with the rules, but provide leadership for other air travellers by projecting good conduct, and protecting public safety.”