A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said the ban was part of efforts towards averting any security breach and the need to protect critical infrastructure, travellers, aircrew, airport staff and personnel at the nation's local and international airports.
The statement said the decision was taken by a strategic security meeting at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Tuesday.
Coincidentally, the decision to ban receptions and carnivals was taken the same day the security personnel at the Port Harcourt International Airport clashed with the supporters of Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi.
The police authorities, therefore, directed the Airport Command Commissioners of Police and Commissioners of Police in states hosting the airports to ensure that, in line with international best practices, firm security measures were taken to safeguard the airports and their crucial infrastructure and prevent a situation where the airports were turned into places of political assemblies, religious worship and other social receptions, as there were enough civic centres, town halls, assembly halls, etc for public meetings, carnivals and celebrations of all kinds.
Confusion had broken out when the security personnel barred the governor's supporters who besieged the airport to welcome the leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who were flying into city to invite him to join the opposition party.
Amaechi, who was reportedly on his way to join his supporters to receive the opposition figures, including former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, and former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, was held up in a traffic gridlock, but alighted from his car and trekked about four kilometres to the airport.
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