Following the use of non-international airports by VIPs, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has instructed that no international flight operations should be conducted through non-international airports.
In a circular issued by the Directorate of Air Traffic Services of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and signed by S.E. Inegbedion, the Deputy General Manager, the Minister directed 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, except those exempted by the National Security Adviser (NSA).
He noted that compliance is compulsory, and any violation will attract appropriate sanctions.
A source disclosed to newsmen that many VIPs have devised a way of asking for last-minute permissions to land at local airports, even claiming they have made arrangements for customs or immigration officers to clear them on arrival.
The suspicion is that many of them might be smuggling cash, goods, arms, and possibly human beings into Nigeria, away from the prying eyes of security agencies at the officially designated international airports.
“This has been happening for a while, and nobody has called them to order. The Minister has decided to act decisively,” the insider told newsmen.