Categories: COVID-19metro

FAAN arrests 90 at Lagos, Abuja airports over fake COVID results, others

In this photo taken Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016, passengers are searched before boarding a flight at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, Nigeria. Nigeria on Monday formally announced the imminent closure of the international airport at Abuja, the capital, for six weeks to repair the runway. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has arrested over 90 persons for allegedly carrying out illegal activities including issuing fake COVID-19 results at the international airports in Lagos and Abuja.

General Manager of Corporate Affairs at FAAN, Henrietta Yakubu, announced this in a statement on Monday.

She said the arrests were part of efforts to rid the nation’s airports of touting and extortion.

According to Yakubu, 59 of the total arrested were handed over to the airport police command in Abuja for prosecution, while 30 were handed over to the police force in Lagos.

Describing the arrested persons as “touts”, the statement said they were apprehended for various acts of illegalities, including selling fake COVID-19 test results, touting, unauthorised entry, trespass, illegal facilitation, forgery, loitering, theft, public nuisance and arguments, amongst others.

Yakubu explained that some of those arrested were staff of Patovilki Nigeria Limited, Lakewood Services, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc and other airport staff.

“FAAN will like to use this opportunity to warn those that do not have any legitimate business at the airports, as well as airport staff carrying out illegal duties to desist from such acts, as the authority will not hesitate to arrest and hand over such individuals for prosecution,” the statement adds.