FG Bans Military, Police, Other Security Officials At Five International Airports

Posted by African Examiner Breaking News, Featured, Latest Headlines Monday, April 28th, 2014

Kayode Adelowokan

The federal government of Nigeria has banned government protocol officials, aides of dignitaries, protocol officers of private companies, unauthorized uniformed and un-uniformed military and security officials from restricted areas of the five international airports

The Special adviser to the president on performance monitoring and evaluation, Professor Sylvester Monye, said this on Monday at Murtala Mohammed International airport, Lagos while addressing journalists on the subject of ensuring sanity, security and global best practices at all five International airport across the country.

The Special adviser who also doubled as Chairman, Presidential committee on Airport security said, “Over the years, it was the practice of government protocol officials, aides of dignitaries, protocol officers of private companies, unauthorized uniformed and un-uniformed military and security officials to move unhindered in restricted areas of our airports. This unwholesome milling around in the immigration and customs areas is a threat to national security. A stop will be put to the practice forthwith.

“The idea is to stop all those not supposed to be within the precincts of our airports to from using such facilities for loitering. It is to stop the impunity of government officials and military officers and personnel not supposed to be at the airports from using their positions to operate in such facilities.”

Henceforth, Professor Monye said no protocol officer/aide will be allowed into the arrival/baggage halls of the international airports. Though,accredited ministry of Foreign affairs protocol officers may be allowed in the restricted areas.

He emphasized that all visitors to the country including foreign dignitaries and officials of multilateral institutions, will be required to summit themselves to the immigration officers for requisite scrutiny and clearance.

He maintained that no protocol officer/aide will be allowed to inbound passengers, including trolley handlers into the baggage halls.

The chairman however said that all the measures being taken by the committee to ensure easy access at all airports and provide adequate security will come into strict effect from May 1, 2014. “In the case of vexatious and indefensible traffic chaos around the Murtala Mohammed international airport, we have taken the definite attitude that it has to stop from May 1, 2014, as well. We will firm in carrying out this mandate”, he mentioned.

Meanwhile, members of the committee, who were on inspection are representative of the Nigeria Police Force, DIG Suleiman Fakai; representative of the National Security Adviser, Navy Commodore Uche Onyia; representative of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier-General A. I. Oribasa; representative of the Nigeria Air Force, Group Captain S. N. Ugorji; representative of the Nigeria Custom Service, Deputy Controller-General T. A. Musa; representative of the Department of State Services, Mrs. J.B. Komolafe; representative of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Assistant Controller-General Nwinyi Nnmadi; representative of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Commandant Hamza Umar; representative of the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Services, Dr. Mike Nwaneri; representative of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Assistant Controller-General T. A. Hundeyin; representative of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, Mr. Wendel Ogunedo, and representative of the Corps Commander Albert Moore.