Following the Turkish Airline fiasco, the Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika has ordered that three top officials of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, should be suspended.

The minister also revealed that an investigation has been ordered into the matter so as to determine the cause of the incident and why the airline brought in passengers without their luggage.

The officials suspended are Airport Manager, Terminal Manager and Head of Airport Security.

They have all been instructed to relinquish their duties to the next in rank pending the closure of the investigation.

The excuse that security operatives of the airport were overpowered given by the officials is not acceptable, according to the minister.

“There has been an unfortunate incident where some agitated passengers of the Turkish Airlines arrived without their luggage making them to force their way into the tarmac which is a breach of security.

“The explanation given is not satisfactory because the primary purpose of the government is to ensure safety of lives and property of its citizens.

“The cardinal objective of this administration is to secure the country and manage it and we cannot fail in aviation and we cannot fail in this important assignment at a very important point.

“We have ordered for the investigation into the matter immediately and all the people that are manning the various places; Airport Manager, Terminal Manager and Head of Security, should handover to the next man in rank pending the outcome of the investigation.

“As to the airline also, the Consumer Protection Unit of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has been ordered to find out what happened, how compliant they are and deal with it accordingly,’’ he said.

Sirika revealed that there were many passengers involved in the incident but the ministry was yet to get the flight manifest to accurately state the specific number.

The minister also stated that the only way the passengers could gain access to a restricted area was because there was a lapse in security.

Adebayo Emuleomo