FG bars gov’s aides, others from airport’s restricted areas

From May 1, 2014, all military and civilian protocol are to stay away from all restricted areas at international airports, including the arrival and baggage halls.

The directive is directed at aides to governors and other dignitaries as well as military and para-military personnel.

Chairman, Presidential Committee on Airport Security, Professor Sylvester Monye, announced the ban yesterday in Lagos at a press briefing after inspecting facilities at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. He said as from May 1, 2014, any civilian or military protocol official who flouts the directive would be arrested.

According to him, a task force drawn from the military and the police would be set up and empowered to enforce the order.

“The federal government is concerned about the security situation at the five international airports and the directive is aimed at ensuring sanity, security and global best practices at all airports in Nigeria. Over the years, it was the practice of government protocol officials, aides of dignitaries, protocol officers of private companies, unauthorized 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,” he said.

He added: “The idea is to stop all those not supposed to be within the precincts of our airport from using such facilities for loitering. It is also 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, no protocol officer or aide will be allowed into the arrival/baggage halls of our international airports. No protocol officer or aide to inbound passengers, including trolley handlers, will be allowed into the baggage halls,” he said.

Monye however added that accredited ministry of foreign affairs protocol officers may be allowed in the restricted areas.

PHOTO Macjohn Akande From right: Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, Adeola Solomon Olamilekan; chairman, House Committee on Media and Publicity, Zakari Mohammed; and member, House Committee on Public Accounts, Babatunde Adejare, during a briefing on a court order restraining the House from investigating the jet scandal involving Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke, in Abuja yesterday.