Nigerian Flight Deck Travel and Business Reportage
THE actions of the former governor of Zamfara State, Alh. Abdulaziz Yari has drawn the ire of a nation following last Saturday’s violation of public health protocols at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport.
The governor was alleged to have been unruly and conducted himself violently as he pushed away officers scheduled to carry out functions at the airport claiming VIP status, something the Federal Government now frowns against due to the protocols in place.
Reacting to this infraction by the former governor, the management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) stated that :
” Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) hereby strongly condemns the conduct of the former Governor of Zamfara State, Alh. Abdulaziz Yari who blatantly violated the Public Health procedures (#COVID19)on travels at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on Saturday 11th July 2020.
“He refused to adhere to the protocols and procedures put in place by the Federal Government through the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on #COVID19 by forcefully pushing away an officer of the Environment department when he insisted that his luggage must be disinfected.
“The former Governor said the officer should have known he is a VIP. This irresponsible act endangers all other airport users, it is unacceptable, and as such it has been duly escalated.
“FAAN hereby cautions all airport users, especially our esteemed VIPs , to please respect the Presidential directive by observing the Public Health travel protocols put in place to protect all air travellers against infection and the spread of the covid-19 pandemic.”
Recall on July 2, 2020 Minister of Aviation said that as flights resumed aides of VIP passengers would henceforth be stopped from accessing the terminal and VIP will be subject to the full safety protocols at the airports.
The VIPs are mostly those who cause stirs at the airports and they gave been told explicitly to carry their own baggage as it was no longer business as usual.
All VIPs governors, ministers, head of government parastatals and agencies, traditional rulers, chief executive of banks have been written to update them on the new protocols.
If it wasn’t business as usual pre covid, it would not have been business as usual during Covid19. Leadership is by example. Clearly, we only have rulers.
No one is above the law. Our ”Leaders” need to know that.