Why VIPs must obey traffic rules at airports - FAAN

The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Saleh Dunoma, has advised concerned organisations and individuals, Very Important Personalities (VIPs) using airport facilities to obey traffic rules.

The FAAN chief said this would ensure the safety and security at the airports, especially the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

Dunoma was reacting to a directive by the Federal Government that airport users, including VIPs, must abide by the rules guiding operations and services.

The government said it had observed a growing trend of flagrant violation of traffic regulations by VIPs and top government officials at the nation’s airports.

It said the indiscriminate parking of vehicles by such personalities in front of the terminal buildings caused long queues and congestions.

A statement by FAAN’s General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Yakubu Dati, said such practice was contrary to air transport operation regulations, as spelt out in Annexes 9 and 17 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) convention.

The statement noted that such incidents had deteriorated to the extent that personal aides of highly placed persons and top government officials manhandles Aviation Security (AVSEC) officials whose duty is to ensure safety and the protection of the terminal building, passengers and the public.

“To avert the undesirable phenomenon, which portends greater danger in the light of current security climate of the intensified concerns about possible use of vehicles as mobile bombs, all VIPs and top
government officials are enjoined to comply with all civil aviation measures and procedures put in place by FAAN to ensure safety at all the airports,” the statement added.