COVID 19: Senate calls for blacklisting, ban of VIPs who violate airport protocols
Nigeria’s Senate Committee on Aviation has recommended that any intending traveller who violates safety protocols against COVID 19 at the nation’s airports should be banned for four months, and must be blacklisted as a deterrent to others.
The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Smart Adeyemi, made this recommendation in a solidarity message to the Minister for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
The senator commended the Aviation Ministry and the FAAN for keeping up with the preventive and protective measures put in place at designated airports where flight operations have resumed.
He also expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance from well-meaning Nigerians through the instrumentality and guidance of the FAAN but warned that anyone caught in the web violating the protocols should be banned from entering the airports for four months.
He said “it has been brought to my attention that some highly placed individuals who ought to adhere completely to the guidelines put in place by your good office have been found wanting.
It has been reported that these individuals have shown an unwillingness to comply with set down rules and guidelines for the safety of all Nigerians. This must not be condoned under any circumstance.
I, therefore, urge that ANY Nigerian who deliberately failed to all measures as directed should not be allowed entry into any Nigerian airport for at least four months.”
According to him, the virus does not respect any social status of individuals, whether highly or lowly placed.
“In the face of health issues, everyone is equal and no individual should be allowed to jeopardize the health and safety of another.
In truth, public office holders, and highly placed individuals should be more concerned about the safety of the people. With position, comes the burden of service.”
The Senator also recommended that to serve as a deterring measure to others, “Such individuals (violators) should be blacklisted at all airports and exposed on social media.
He called on the Ministry and the FAAN to implement the same strategies at all other airports before they fully commence operations.
“The implementation of preventive measures should be fully enforced regardless of social status,” he added.
