Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, has said that officials of past administrations, including ministers, are entitled to their full rights and privileges under the constitution and must not be subjected to any undue harassment and intimidation at the airports or at other points of entry and exit.
“We have not banned anyone from travelling,” Buhari said in a statement released on Saturday by the Head of his Media Team, Garba Shehu.
Responding to some cases of “V.I.P stoppages” at the airports as reported to him, President Buhari directed all agencies under the government to run their affairs in full compliance with extant rules, regulations and the constitution.
“Unless otherwise directed by the courts, no law-abiding citizens should be barred from travelling abroad. We must treat fellow citizens with courtesy and respect.
“Officials at the borders and other points of entry and exit should conduct their affairs in strict compliance with due process. No one has my permission to bar anyone from travelling abroad,” President Buhari said.
In his inauguration speech on Friday, the president had dismissed insinuations that he would go after some persons in governance.
“A few people have privately voiced fears that on coming back to office I shall go after them. These fears are groundless. There will be no paying off old scores. The past is prologue,” he said.
•Sourced from Channels TV. Photo shows Buhari
NEWS EXPRESS is Nigeria’s leading online newspaper. Published by Africa’s international award-winning journalist, Mr. Isaac Umunna, NEWS EXPRESS is Nigeria’s first truly professional online daily newspaper. It is published from Lagos, Nigeria’s economic and media hub, and has a provision for occasional special print editions. Thanks to our vast network of sources and dedicated team of professional journalists and contributors spread across Nigeria and overseas, NEWS EXPRESS has become synonymous with newsbreaks and exclusive stories from around the world.