The management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has stated the reasons behind the recent arrest of over 90 touts at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
FAAN, in a statement issued on Monday, signed by the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, said the arrest was part of the agency’s efforts to rid the nation’s airports of touting, extortion and other nefarious activities.
Yakubu said that some of those arrested were staff of Patovilki Nigeria Ltd., Lakewood Services, Nahco Plc, and other airport staff.
She said that the touts were arrested for various acts of illegality, including providing fake COVID-19 test results to intending passengers, touting, unauthorised entry, trespassing, illegal facilitation and forgery.
Others include loitering, theft, public nuisance and arguments.
“Of the total arrested, 59 were handed over to the airport police command in Abuja for prosecution, while 30 were handed over to the police command in Lagos for same.
“FAAN uses this opportunity to warn those that do not have any legitimate businesses at the airports, as well as airport staff carrying out illegal duties to desist from such acts, as the Authority will not hesitate to arrest and hand over such individuals to law enforcement agencies for prosecution, ” she added.
