Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, on Thursday, accused Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, of flouting COVID-19 public health protocols at the Port Harcourt International Airport on Tuesday.
FAAN alleged that Governor Fintiri, along with eight others, refused to observe the Airport Security and Public Health protocols as directed by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 by refusing to have his temperature checked, or being sanitised by the health officials.
According to FAAN in a statement, Governor Fintiri’s entire entourage of eight did exactly as their principal.
“The team that came to receive them drove right through the barricades up to the terminal building, ignoring traffic and Aviation Security instructions,” the statement said.
Tuesday’s incident involving the Adamawa governor was the second to be reported of Very Important Persons violating the COVID-19 protocols put in place in the wake of the reopening of airports.
Last Saturday, a former Zamfara State governor, AbdulAziz Yari, reportedly assaulted an official, who was trying to disinfect his bag at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport.
Managing Director of FAAN, Capt. Hamisu Yadudu, had decried the two incidents, which he said would not be treated lightly.
In a statement posted on one of its social media pages on Thursday, FAAN “strongly” condemned the conduct of Governor Fintiri, who arrived at the Port Harcourt International Airport aboard aircraft 5N-IZY, at 17:08 hrs on 14th July 2020.
FAAN described the governor’s action as ‘irresponsible’ and posing a danger to all other airport users, saying it was unacceptable, and as such had also been duly escalated.
“FAAN hereby cautions all airport users, especially our esteemed VIPs, to please respect the Presidential directive by observing airport Security and Public Health travel protocols put in place to protect all air travellers against acts of unlawful interference, infection and the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the statement added.