Tobias Sylvester
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has arrested over 90 staff at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
FAAN spokesperson, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday, said the 90 persons were arrested as part of the effort to rid the nation’s airports of criminal activities.
The suspects were arrested for issuing fake Covid-19 test results, touting, unauthorised entry, trespass, illegal facilitation, forgery, loitering, theft, public nuisance, arguments and others.
Mrs Yakubu said that some of those arrested include workers with Patovilki Nigeria Limited, Lakewood Services, Nahco Plc and others.
Of those arrested, 59 were handed over to the Airport Police Command in Abuja and 30 were handed over to the police in Lagos for prosecution.
She said: “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 to the police.”
But the Nigeria Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) has asked FAAN to disclose the identity of its staff arrested for illegal activities at the airports.
Its spokesman, Samuel Akinrinmade, said: “NAHCO is in support of the arrest of the airport staff for touting and other vices. We commend the move.
“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.”
KanyiDaily had also reported how FAAN suspended the Aviation Security Officer, Jennifer Luka, who was involved in an alleged $600 theft at the Yola International Airport.
