Don’t sell Abuja airport to Turkish firm CSO warns federal government

The Coalition for the Protection of Rights and Justice (CPRJ) as called on the federal government not to sell Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport to a Turkish firm, saying it may expose country’s security to more terrorism.

The group who made the call on Sunday while reacting to a statement by Special Adviser, Media to President Muhammadu Buhari Garba Shehu, warns that most Turkish firms are been operated by the government of the day in Turkey.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, disclosed a Turkish firm have expressed interest in bidding for the concession of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.

According to a statement by CPRJ National Cordinator, Raymond Audu said  if the country’s airport is sold to a Turkish firm it automatically expose Nigeria’s security system to Turkish government that was alleged to be financing a terrorist group.

“We believe that if the airport is sold to a Turkish firm it will means over 60per cent of the the security will be handled by Turkish nationals and this will pose a great threat to our immigration system.

“Recently US government frozen arms sales to the bodyguards unit of Turkish President, Recep Erdogan, amid strained ties between both countries.

In Nigeria, of recent some arms said to br imported into the country from Turkey were intercepted by the customs officials in Lagos, this should be enough signals that if Turkish controls our airport we should expect importation of more arms.

“It means that other nationals who are perceived enemies of Recep Erdogan resident in Nigeria would not be able to transact or move freely across the country or travel out. They may be arrested at the airport and accuse them of terrorism or coupe plotter.

“We call on federal government to protect its citizens and residents of the country”.

According to  Audu, President Erdogan has persistently violated the human right act which has put over hundred thousand of people in jail following 2016 fanthom coup.

Audu said, since July 2016, over 146,674 workers have been sacked, 126, 156 people currently in detention, 2, 099 schools, dormitories, universities have been shut down, 2,099 schools, dormitories, universities shut down, 8,316 academics lost their jobs, 4,424 judges, prosecutors dismissed, 187 media outlets shut down, 302 journalists arrested.”

This number includes (1) state officials, teachers, bureaucrats, and academics who were dismissed by government’s decrees, No. 667 issued on July 23, No.668 issued on July 25, No.669 issued on July 31, No. 672 issued on Sept. 1, No.675 issued on Oct. 29, No. 677/678 issued on Nov. 22, 2016, No.679/680/681 issued on Jan. 6, 2017, No.682/683/684/685 issued on Jan 23, 2017, and No.689 issued on April 29, 2017, No.692 issued on July 14, 2017, No.693/694 issued on August 25, 2017 and (2) academics who lost their jobs by gov’t decrees, No. 677 issued on July 23, No.675 issued on Oct. 29, 2016, and No.689 issued on April 29, 2017; (3) teachers whose licenses were revoked by Turkey’s Education Ministry on July 19, 2016; (4) and dismissed military personnel [6,511 officers and 16,409 cadets.