By Chesa Chesa
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has arrested no about 90 persons for engaging in nefarious activities at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The arrested suspects were employees of the Nigerian Aviation Handling company Plc (NAHCO), Patovilki Nigeria Limited, Lakewood Services, and other airport officials, according to FAAN spokesperson, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu.
In a statement issued Monday, 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, 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 therefore, 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,” she said.
Meanwhile, NAHCO in its reaction to the development commended the move by FAAN, saying that “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.”
