I never said Ethiopian, Egyptian airlines running drug cartels, Dabiri-Erewa

Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Foreign Relations & Diaspora, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa has rebuked media reports where she was credited to have, during Wednesday’s Senate committee public hearing, said that some foreign airlines were running drug cartels in the country.

In a statement by her media aide, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Dabiri-Erewa pointed out that what she said was that there was a need for Egyptian and Ethiopian airlines to ensure compulsory baggage identification because cases recorded on the issue of drugs had been from both airlines.

The Senate had invited Dabiri-Erewa to probe the circumstances surrounding the framing up and eventual arrest of Zainab Aliyu in Saudi Arabia over allegation of carrying tramadol drug in her baggage.

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The statement read, “the attention of Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has been drawn to some news headlines accusing some foreign airlines of running drug cartels in the country.
‘The headline which reads “Egypt, Ethiopian Airlines Running Drug Cartels in Nigeria” says Dabiri-Erewa, is a figment of the Reporter’s imagination.

“The headline is totally incorrect and not a true reflection of what she said during the Senate committee public hearing chaired by Senator Kabiru Gaya on Wednesday.

“Dabiri-Erewa had during the hearing stressed the need for those two airlines to ensure compulsory baggage identification as all cases recorded on the issue of drugs had been from both airlines.

“Luckily enough, the representative of Ethiopian Air, who was at the public hearing, promised that baggage identification would be strengthened.

“Members of the public are hereby urged to discountenance previous publication that is contrary to this clarification.”