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MMIA Airport Scandal: UK Returnees Refuse To Pay FG’s Money Into Private Account
There was pandemonium on the Murtala Muhammed Worldwide Airport on Wednesday night as vacationers arriving Nigeria from the UK protested demand by officers of the Nigeria Centre for Illness Management (NCDC) that they pay N51,950 in to a personal account for COVID-19 PCR take a look at.
Every day Unbiased gathered that the passengers who arrived Nigeria from British Airways, Qatar and Lufthansa flights nearly paralysed actions on the airport after officers couldn’t present a logical response to their query son why they need to pay cash belonging to the Federal Authorities into a person account.
In keeping with COVID-19 protocol from the Presidential Steering Committee and the NCDC, passengers who’re travelling to Nigeria from any nation should perform a COVID-19 PCR take a look at and take a look at adverse inside 72 hours to the day of journey. Vacationers should register on the Nigeria Worldwide Journey Portal (NITP) for a repeat PCR take a look at to be carried out seven days after arrival.
The federal government additionally mandated that passengers arriving Lagos airport pay N50,400 for COVID-19 take a look at, whereas the value varies for different states, together with the FCT.
Nonetheless, upon arrival on the Lagos airport, passengers who had problem in accessing the NCDC web site to pay the charges have been ordered to pay the sum of N51,950 in to a personal account be longing to at least one Williams Oladipupo.
They have been handed over a word that learn, ‘1433844324, Entry Financial institution, N51,950, Williams Oladipupo’. Those that didn’t have naira have been requested to pay in overseas forex. They have been debited 95 kilos every.
A younger woman stationed on the desk already had the account quantity written on a sheet of paper. After confirming fee, she’s going to then write down the identify of the passenger, electronic mail, phone quantity, passport number, nationality and most well-liked laboratory the place they need the take a look at to be performed.
Bother began when one of many passengers, a Nigerian, who claimed he had lived most of his life within the UK, demanded to know why monies belonging to the Federal Authorities needs to be paid into a personal account. The younger woman couldn’t supply any rationalization. She mentioned she was solely appearing on the instruction given to her.
The response of the woman infuriated the passenger, who raised his voice, saying it’s unlawful for monies belonging to the Federal Authorities to be paid to into a person account. He insisted he received’t pay the cash and doesn’t care if the Federal Authorities seizes his passport.
Different passengers, who had earlier paid and people who have been but to pay, joined the person in asking why they have been assigned to totally different laboratories however have been requested to pay in to the identical non-public account. It took the efforts of the safety operatives on the airport to calm the riotous scenario.
Talking with Every day Independent, one of many passengers, who requested to not be named for concern of being victimised, mentioned the extent of impunity in Nigeria is alarming.
In keeping with her, it is just in Nigeria {that a} obligatory charge demanded by the Federal Government is being paid into a personal account.
“What method of nation is that this? This nation is not only working. Anybody saying that this nation is working has not stepped his ft out of Nigeria or he’s benefiting from the corrupt system.
“You may think about what is going on right here. How are you going to ask residents to pay monies requested by the federal government into a person account? Who authorised it? Is the Federal Authorities conscious of this? That is Lagos State, is Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu conscious? Till we study to talk out and demand that the correct factor is completed, this nation won’t transfer ahead.
“The directive was for in sure passengers to Lagos to pay N50,400 however they’re demanding N51,950. Who will get the additional N1,550. Think about the variety of passengers arriving Lagos daily. The EFCC ought to please look into this”.
Additionally talking, one other passenger, who mentioned she was heading to Ibadan in Oyo State however was delayedat the airport for nearly two hours due to the charge, mentioned she was made to pay with 95 kilos which is way larger than the original quantity (N50,400) she was speculated to pay.
“My fear now could be, will I nonetheless pay one other cash if I’m going to the laboratory? A buddy of mine paid this cash few days in the past however she didn’t obtain any mail or textual content calling her to return for take a look at. She needed to go to one other laboratory on her personal and paid in order that her passport won’t be confiscated or barred from touring as a result of she travelsalot for enterprise”, she mentioned.
When contacted, officers of NCDC and Ministry of Well being declined to talk on the matter. They, nevertheless, directed our correspondent to the Lagos State authorities below whose jurisdiction the incident befell.
When contacted, Dr. Bamidele Mutiu, the Director, Lagos State Bio-Financial institution, promised to analyze the event and get again to our correspondent.
When he referred to as again, Mutiu confirmed that Williams, the proprietor of the account the passengers have been requested to pay into is one in all their employees.
He mentioned the supply was made when the passengers have been having problem assessing the NCDC web site and problem in making the fee.
He, nevertheless, mentioned he has ordered an additional investigation to establish whether or not what was paid into Williams account is the precise quantity remitted to the Federal Authorities’s account.
He promised that the investigation will probably be clear and the media may also be current to confirm it.
Additionally talking, Gbenga Omotosho, the Commissioner for Information, Lagos State, mentioned the federal government will perform a detailed investigation on the problem.
MMIA Airport Scandal
