THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
To reduce the crowds at its airports and enhance the security and comfort of passengers, the government has issued a directive calling on both private and official travellers not to bring friends, relatives and staff to the airport
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced that no individual or government agency will henceforth be allowed to escort passengers into airports.
Henrietta Yakubu, FAAN General Manager, Corporate Affairs, said in a statement released on Wednesday (18 November) in Abuja that the move was part of measures to ensure security at the airports.
“The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has directed that only its protocol services and designated Ministry of Foreign Affairs officers will be allowed to escort passengers or to conduct any type of protocol activity after immigration process for departing passengers, and before immigration process for arriving passengers at the airports,“ the statement said.
According to Yakubu, the directive became necessary because these protocol officers, family and friends that escort VIP travellers to the airport, obstruct the smooth processing of passengers by Immigration and this has caused unnecessary delays.
The FAAN has also appealed to private travellers not to bring their friends and relatives to the airport.
“In a similar vein, passengers are also advised to please kindly desist from coming to the airports with groups of friends and relatives,” Yakubu said.
The directive was issued to reduce the crowds at Nigerian international airports as passengers are usually escorted by friends and families while government and company officials are also accompanied by their staff.
As airports have become critical security zones, it becomes also difficult for the security agencies to police airports effectively as the numbers of people coming into and leaving the airports make it difficult to carry out thorough security checks, analysts say, expressing understanding for the FAAN’s directive.
“Consequently, in the interest of our common safety and comfort, all passengers, agencies, and other stakeholders are requested to kindly align their airport activities accordingly,” Yakubu said.
Kola Tella
