The spokesperson for the Nigerian military, Major-General Chris Olukolade has explained why the Nigerian government banned private planes from landing at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano.
Premium Times reports that Olukolade stated that the ban was for “security reasons” but did not state the nature of the security concerns.
It was however gathered through a source in the military that the directive would not be unconnected with Sunday’s crowning of Lamido Sanusi as the new Emir of Kano.
“After the Emir was appointed, there were lots of protests from the group supporting the late Emir’s son. The security agencies must have felt that certain actions need to be taken,” the source, who declined to be named because he was not authorized to speak for the military, said.
Also commenting on the matter, Mr. Yakubu Dati, the spokesperson for the Nigerian aviation parastatals, said the military usually takes such decisions when there are security concerns.
“We as an authority, we have not banned any plane from landing in Kano. You know there is civil aviation and there is also military aviation which supersedes ours,” Mr. Dati said.
“They don’t consult anybody. They just go ahead with their decision since it is about security,” he added.
Reports stated that Nasarawa State Governor, Umaru Al-Makura, who was flying into the Kano airport from Makurdi on Monday morning, was denied clearance to land by the airport commander.
Many political party topshots flew into Kano prior to the appointment of the new Emir on Sunday.
Speaking on the issue, APC chieftain, Nasir El-Rufai, described the military’s action as a “hopeless persecution” of Mr. Sanusi by the Nigerian government.
Prior to Sanusi’s emergence as Emir, he had been having a battle with the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
