RE: OUTBREAK OF EPIDEMIC IMMINENT AT LAGOS AIRPORT
The attention of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has been drawn to a sensational and misleading story in the National Tribune and Daily Independent Newspapers of September 22, 2014 alleging the imminence of an outbreak of epidemic at the Hajj/Cargo terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja as a result of “the deplorable condition of facilities” at the terminal.
It is regrettable that the story, which was capable of creating fear in the mind of intending pilgrims (what with the recent EVD scare in the country) was not based on any personal observation or assessment of the said facilities by the reporters but on the account of a supposed intending pilgrim. This is more so because the reporters could easily have cross-checked their facts with our Corporate Communications Department or the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) before going to press with such a sensitive issue.
The Authority wishes to state that it is untrue that “the toilet facilities (at the terminal) have been left unclean over the weeks without lights at night”. There is no doubt that the 39 toilet facilities (not 12 as claimed by the report) provided at the terminal could be overstretched when used by an average of 500 pilgrims per flight for about two weeks, but it was uncharitable to say that these toilet facilities were not cleaned throughout this period.
Relevant government agencies responsible for the airlift and welfare of pilgrims such as National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) could not have turned a blind eye to such a dangerous situation.
We believe that officials of NAHCON, who work in collaboration with FAAN are in a better position to make such complaints of “impending epidemic” and not a supposed intending pilgrim who claimed “that the dirty nature of the toilet facilities could lead to an epidemic in the area, stressing that some of the pilgrims had approached the terminal authority about the deplorable condition of the facilities without positive response”.
We question the veracity of this claim because individual pilgrims can only approach “the terminal authority” with such complaints through officials of NAHCOM or other relevant agencies who have unfettered access to officials of FAAN, some of whom are specially posted during Hajj operations to facilitate efficient service delivery, including a clean, secure and safe environment at the Hajj Terminal, during this period.
FAAN wishes to assure all intending pilgrims and the general public that the Authority has put necessary machinery in place to ensure that all Hajj Terminals across the country, not just that at MMA, Lagos, are safe, secure and in good hygienic condition to effectively handle Hajj operations. We, therefore, consider any talk of impending outbreak of epidemic at any of our Hajj terminals as not only misleading but also malicious.
Onyekwere Nnaekpe
For: General Manager (Corporate Communications)
