The management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, has condemned the act of the former Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, who assaulted an environmental officer enforcing the COVID-19 guidelines as ordered by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19. 

The incident happened on Saturday, July 11, at the Malam Aminu Kano International airport in Kano State.

FAAN, in a statement released on Wednesday, July 15, described Yari’s behaviour as an  “irresponsible and “unacceptable” one.

According to the FAAN, the diligent officer tried to disinfect the luggage of the former Governor who was a passenger at the airport, but Yari pushed him away, claiming he was a very important personality.

The statement read in part, “The Management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria hereby strongly condemns the conduct of the former Governor of Zamfara State, Alh. Abdulaziz Yari who blatantly violated the Public Health procedures (COVID-19)on travels at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport on Saturday 11th July 2020.

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“He refused to adhere to the protocols and procedures put in place by the Federal Government through the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 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.”

Prior to this, on June 15,  FAAN Corporate Affairs Manager, Henrietta Yakubu, had said that VIPs would be treated like other passengers as they will be subjected to all health checks to ensure the safety of staff and other passengers, adding that their escorts are banned from following their subjects into the terminal, Eons Intelligence reports.

Aside from the comment of the air authority, some concerned Nigerians have given their verdict on the conduct of the former Governor. 

A twitter user said, “If it was a poor Nigerian he would have been arrested, beaten as if he stole in the bank,  instead of you to arrest him you are here telling us nonsense mtewwww.”

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Another concerned Nigerian who faulted Yari’s attitude said that “He should have been arrested or detained to miss his flight, no one is supposed to be above the law. Escalating the event without consequences isn't a solution or deterrence to others.”

A user commended the FAAN for airing the incident saying, “I commend @FAAN_Official for bringing this to public domain, it serves as warning to all potential air passengers, especially VIPs. This brings to fore our security agencies to redesign the security protocols @ our airports in line with #COVID19 challenges.” 

Following the resumption of flight operations, the  Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, had on Monday appealed to all personalities and Governors to abide by the new protocols put in place at the nation’s airports to curb the spread of coronavirus.