Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo has ordered a full investigation into Yola Airport’s security after Patience Abbo, wife of former Adamawa North Senator Ishaku Abbo, was filmed accessing restricted airside areas twice.
The move follows a Premium Times report with video evidence of the breaches. The newspaper said the minister demanded explanations from airport security officials after its initial story.
Officials told the minister Mrs Abbo claimed she was travelling with her husband and was waved past the terminal gates. They said they only realized she wasn’t a passenger when she walked back alone after seeing him off at the aircraft steps.
But a second video obtained by Premium Times showed Mrs Abbo on the tarmac again. She wore a brown abaya and wheeled a suitcase to the foot of an aircraft staircase. The new footage undercuts claims that the first incident was a one-off misunderstanding.
Part 17 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations classifies airport aprons as Security Restricted Areas. Access is limited to authorized staff and screened passengers with valid travel documents.
Industry stakeholders who spoke to Premium Times questioned why staff accepted a verbal claim instead of checking for a boarding pass. Insiders described it as part of a wider “VIP culture” at domestic airports, where officials bend rules for high-profile individuals while regular travellers face strict screening.
The probe will review the conduct of Aviation Security personnel on duty during both incidents. It will also examine how a videographer gained unauthorized access to film the departures.
Abubakar Manir, who heads the Crime, Intelligence, and Investigation Unit at FAAN Sokoto, previously warned Premium Times about the risks. “Once they start the engine, a civilian might not know the safety procedure. If you are close, it can hit you,” he said.
Mr Abbo could not be reached to confirm whether airside permits were sought for his wife.