FAAN Restricts Protocol Services at Airports

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has disclosed that no individual or agency will be allowed to use protocol services after immigration for departing passengers or before immigration for arriving passengers.

This disclosure came in a statement signed by the General Manager, Corporate Affairs of FAAN, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, on Wednesday, emphasising that this applies to all airports across the country.

According to the statement, the decision was taken in line with the federal government’s policy as regards the ease of doing business in the country which includes ensuring that airports are decongested.

However, the statement noted that the new directive exempts FAAN protocol services and also special designated officers from the ministry of foreign affairs.

The statement reads: “In line with provisions of the federal government’s directive on the ease of doing business, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has directed that apart from FAAN protocol services and the designated Ministry of Foreign Affairs Officers, no individual or agency is allowed to escort passengers or conduct any type of protocol activity after immigration process for departing passengers, and before immigration process for arriving passengers at the airports.

“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.

“In a similar vein, passengers are also advised to desist from coming to the airports with groups of friends and relatives, please. This is aimed at enhancing the safety, comfort, and efficient facilitation of human and vehicular traffic at the airports.”

With the festive season here, the agency added that it was prepared for the usual surge in passenger traffic that came with the Christmas season.

“In preparation for the season and beyond, we have beefed up security at all our airports, especially the major international gateways in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano,” the agency said.

FAAN urged all passengers to cooperate with the agency to ensure that there are no complications this Christmas.