The ban is reportedly linked to
Tuesday’s clash between Governor
Amaechi’s supporters and security
personnel at Port Harcourt
International Airport
The Nigeria Police Force, Wednesday,
banned all political, socio-cultural,
and religious gatherings within and
around the country’s airport
premises; including tarmacs,
lounges, and other sensitive security
points.
A statement by the Force Public
Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said the
ban was part of efforts towards
averting any security breach and the
need to protect critical infrastructure,
travelers, aircrew, airport staff and
personnel at the nation’s local and
international airports.
The police authorities, therefore,
directed the Airport Command
Commissioners of Police and
Commissioners of Police in states
hosting the airports to ensure that, in
line with international best practices,
firm security measures were taken to
safeguard the airports and their
crucial infrastructure and prevent a
situation where the airports were
turned into places of political
assemblies, religious worship and
other social receptions, as there were
enough civic centres, town halls,
assembly halls, etc for public
meetings, carnivals and celebrations
of all kinds.
The statement said the decision was
taken by a strategic security meeting
at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, on
Tuesday.
The decision to ban receptions and
carnivals was taken the same day the
security personnel at the Port
Harcourt International Airport clashed
with the supporters of Rivers State
Governor, Chibuike Amaechi.
Confusion had broken out when the
security personnel barred the
governor’s supporters who besieged
the airport to welcome the leaders of
the All Progressives Congress, APC,
who were flying into city to invite him
to join the opposition party.
Mr. Amaechi, who was reportedly on
his way to join his supporters to
receive the opposition figures,
including former Head of State,
Muhammadu Buhari, and former
Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu,
was held up in a traffic gridlock, but
alighted from his car and trekked
about four kilometres to the airport.
Spokesperson of the Federal Airports
Authority of Nigeria , FAAN, Yakubu
Datti, had told PREMIUM TIMES that
thugs led by Mr. Amaechi, invaded
the airport.
“As I’m talking to you now they have
invaded the tarmac and an Arik flight
just arrived Port Harcourt now,” he
said.
The Police said in the statement that
though it was not unaware of the
constitutional rights of Nigerians to
freedom of movement and assembly,
the enjoyment of these rights must be
situated within the boundary of the
law and appropriate civil behaviour.
“The Force therefore implores
Nigerians to cooperate with the Police
in their effort at improving the
maintenance of effective safety and
security at all the nooks and crannies
of the airport. It further calls on the
Nigerian elite, political and opinion
leaders to assist the Police in the
education and enlightenment of their
fans, admirers, supporters and
followers on the need to abide by
these rules, as failure to comply will
attract appropriate legal sanctions,” it
added.
The Police also said that its Inspector
General, Mohammed Abubakar, “has
reiterated his administration’s
unalloyed commitment towards
eliminating all forms of threat to
internal security, even as he pledges
a safe and conducive environment for
our democracy and democratic
institutions to thrive.”
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/149186-apc-port-harcourt-visit-fallout-nigerian-police-ban-receptions-rallies-airports.html

Good development! It is all these praise-singings and sycophancy that make our politicians feel they are 'gods'.

About time