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,” he said in a statement released on Saturday by the Head of President Buhari’s 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.
He said: ”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”.