FAAN raises alarm as Covid-19 positive passengers besiege airports for foreign travels

Abiola Seun

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has frowned at air passengers flouting of Covid-19 protocols coming to the airport to board flights.

Speaking yesterday, the Airport Manager, Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, Mrs. Victoria shin-Aba said persons tested positive for Covid-19 should isolate and stay indoor.

According to her, Covid-19 patients are supposed to stay indoor for treatment but were seen roaming around in public places and interacting with others.

Shin-Aba said despite warnings that persons tested positive for Covid-19 should isolate, stay indoors for their treatment, rather they were seen roaming around in public places and interacting with others.

She also said that they were always in contact with the Port Health Services and had held meetings regarding the matter.

“People with positive COVID test still come to the Airport to board, I don’t know for whatever reason.

“They know with this, they can’t travel but they still bring it but definitely they are not allowed to travel.”

The MMIA Manager stressed that, on a daily basis, FAAN personnel ensure compliance of passengers to the Covid protocols, enforcing the use of facemask, sanitizers were in place for use by passengers, adding that with the Omicron variant,the spread should be stopped by all means.

“We have to ensure that both passengers and staff obey and comply with protocols”.

On other facilities at the airport, Shin-Aba, noted that, the era of power outage was now a thing of the past as heavy duty generators have been purchased and installed, including Universal Power Systems, UPS to sustain power before the generators are switched on.

She further revealed that recently scanning machines were installed on both sides of the screening points at both the arrival and departure.

She expressed delight that passengers traffic had increased tremendously since last week and that, the current facilities at the terminal were being overstretched as a result of long usage and expressed the hope that it would soon be over when the new terminal is inaugurated.

“The terminal was built for the capacity of “two million passengers but as we talk, we do have ten million passengers, definitely it is well over stretched and we still do our best for passengers comfort but the challenge is the cooling system but we are still working on them”.

As regards vehicular movements, she said, the new system of parking had greatly helped decongest the environment of illegal parking and now the terminal had more capacity to accommodate people and vehicles at the front of the terminal.

Shin Aba assured passengers of a problem- free yuletide and better experience.