Tag: Yakubu Datti

A mild drama unfolded on Wednesday at the departure hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, when a middle – aged female passenger billed to travel with Etihad Airways died inside one of the toilets at the airport.

Though details about the circumstances that led to her death were sketchy at press time, she was believed to be traveling for medical treatment abroad.

The deceased was said to have suffered a bout of pain that made her to rush to the toilet where she died.

The Spokesman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Yakubu Dati, confirmed the incident.

He said the agency was investigating the death and would give details of what happened later.

Vigilant Aviation Security staff of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Wednesday apprehended a man, Mr. Alabibu Olushola, who attempted to stow away in a taxing aircraft at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

The General Manager, Public Affairs of FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati, said the culprit was arrested as soon as he scaled the perimeter fence near the moving aircraft.

Dati said after interrogation by the Aviation security staff, the culprit was immediately handed over to the police for further interrogation.

Dati said:” Authority wishes to remind members of the public that access to restricted areas of the airport, including the tarmac and perimeter roads, is prohibited for unauthorized people, including airport staff, who have no business being there. This is more so in view of the present security situation in the country.

“The Authority will henceforth not hesitate to arrest and prosecute any person, including unauthorized airport staff, found loitering around restricted areas of all our airports.”

To enhance security at airports nationwide during the Eid –el-Kabir celebration, the Federal Government has deployed sniffer dogs and bomb detectors at major screening points at the airports.

The new security measures, according to the spokesman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Yakubu Datti, is to ensure hitch- free movement of passengers and cargo at airports.

He said in a statement issued on Sunday that the airports have been fully mobilized to cater for the upsurge in passenger traffic during the Sallah celebration.

Datti said,” The management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria wishes to assure members of the public, especially passengers and airline operators, that necessary operational and security measures have been put in place at all our airports to ensure hitch-free movement of passengers and cargo during the forthcoming Eid-el- Kabir holidays.

“Our airports are expected to experience considerable upsurge in passenger traffic during this period.

“Apart from the statutory security and safety measures already in place at the airports, sniffer dogs and members of the bomb detection unit of the Nigerian Police Force have also been deployed at the airports, to complement the effort of our aviation security personnel at the airports’ screening points.

“Passenger facilitation at all our airports had also been enhanced by the installation of more modern and bigger conveyor belts and walk-through metal detectors.

“The expansion and modernisation of all the airport terminals in the country now provide better ambience and more space for shops and restaurants at the terminals. This also helps passengers relax comfortably while waiting for their flights.

“FAAN, however, advises air passengers to make early arrangements for their travels and to leave home early on their travel dates, in order to complete their boarding facilities in good time. “

There was anxiety at the arrival floor of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Monday as a passenger on queue at the Port Health Unit of the terminal building slumped and died.

He slumped while waiting to collect his vaccination and inoculation certificate otherwise known as “Yellow Card.”

The passenger identified as a Nigerian was said to be on his way to Ghana for medical treatment.

The passenger’s death coincided with the visit of the new Aviation Minister, Chief Osita Chidoka , who inspected facilities at both the domestic and international terminals of the airport.

It was the minister’s maiden visit to Lagos to inspect airport facilities and engage stakeholders.

According to sources at the airport, the passenger arrived Lagos on August 8 for business transactions and took ill.

When his health got worse, he reportedly called his doctor in Accra, who advised him to return for further medical treatment.

Confirming the incident, the Spokesman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Yakubu Dati, said,” The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria wishes to inform the public that a Nigerian passenger residing in Accra who arrived Lagos for business transactions aboard an Arik Air flight on Friday August 8, 2014 has died at the Murtala Mohammad Airport, Ikeja, on his way back to Accra.

“The passenger, Mr. Akunne Osei took ill on Saturday, August 9 and started stooling. When the situation got worse, he called his doctor in Accra who instructed him to return to Ghana immediately for further treatment.

“During boarding formalities for his return trip to Accra, at the international terminal of MMA, Mr. Osei, who had obviously become weak at this time, was subjected to Ebola Virus test by port health officials, the result of which was negative.

“No further attention was paid to him after his Ebola Virus result read negative but the passenger later slumped and died around the port health office.

This release is necessary to forestall the possible dissemination of unfounded and misleading media reports on the unfortunate incident.”

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria on Wednesday blamed damaged power supply cables for Tuesday’s power outage at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

Several pre – flight operations were disrupted on account of the power outage at the terminal.

The agency General Manager, Corporate communication, Mr. Yakubu Dati, told journalists that the damaged cables are being replaced by contractors working at the terminal to avoid reoccurrence of the outage.

Dati added that FAAN engineers have been mobilized to constantly monitor the contractors working at the terminal to ensure no further damage is done to the cables.

He said,” The outage which was on for about one hour was caused by damaged cables caused by ongoing construction work at the Lagos Airport international terminal. Steps are being taken to ensure it does not happen again.”