The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has denied media reports claiming that former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan was denied access to the VIP lounge of the Port Harcourt International Airport.
A statement issued by FAAN general manager Corporate Affairs, Mr Yakubu Dati on July 28th, said the reports are false and misleading.
”We wish to state that no such thing happened as Dame Patience Jonathan, like other family members of former Presidents and other designated principal officers of government, are officially entitled to the use of airports’ VIP and protocol lounges under the management of FAAN. The Authority holds the former First Lady in high esteem, being the wife of our former President and, therefore, could not have done anything that would suggest disrespect for her person,” it said.
The statement added that the former first lady’s convoy was only denied access to the foot of the aircraft during boarding formalities, a procedure which is in line with international aviation best practices. The statement said:
”Our security officials explained this fact in detail to the former first lady. We wish to recall that former President Goodluck Jonathan in his recent trips from the same airport, had to walk to the aircraft from the protocol lounge, in recognition of this ICAO regulation.”
