Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, has issued a directive prohibiting international flight operations from non-international airports, TheCable reports.
This measure aims to curb the practice of VIPs bypassing the scrutiny of immigration and customs services by using local airports. In an exclusive report by online media, TheCable, an insider revealed that many VIPs have been exploiting a loophole by requesting last-minute permissions to land at domestic airports, often arranging for customs or immigration officers to clear them upon arrival.
The suspicion is that these VIPs might be smuggling cash, goods, arms, and possibly human beings into Nigeria, avoiding the watchful eyes of security agencies at officially designated international airports.
“This has been going on for a while without anyone addressing it. The minister has decided to act decisively,” the insider told TheCable.
A circular, dated July 17, 2024, has been issued by the Directorate of Air Traffic Services of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA). Signed by S.E. Inegbedion, the Deputy General Manager, the circular informs all stations of the ministerial directive that, effective immediately, no international flight operations should be conducted through non-international airports.
The minister also mandated that all international flight operations at General Aviation Terminals (GAT) and other private terminals at international airports must complete clearances and checks at international terminals, with exemptions only granted by the National Security Adviser (NSA).
Inegbedion emphasized that compliance is compulsory and any violations will attract appropriate sanctions, although the specifics of these sanctions were not disclosed.
