by S’ola Filani

A middle -aged man slumped and died, while queuing up to get the yellow card at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, on Monday.

The incident happened when the new Minister of Aviation, Mr Osita Chidoka, was on tour of the Lagos Airport for the first time.

The tour had to be diverted to another area because of panic obviously as a result of the hype the outbreak of Ebola virus had created.

Some staff and passengers fled the scene following the man’s collapse, as they feared he was infected with the deadly Ebola Virus Disease.

Confirming the death of the middle-aged man who, until his death, was a Nigerian  residing in Accra, Ghana, the General Manager, Corporate Communications, FAAN, Yakubu Dati, in a statement said  “the passenger, Mr Osei, took ill on Saturday, August 9 and started stooling. When the situation got worse, he called his doctor in Accra, who instructed him to return to Ghana immediately for further treatment.

“During boarding formalities for his return trip to Accra, at the international terminal of MMA, Mr Osei, who had obviously become weak at this time, was subjected to Ebola virus test by port health officials, the result of which was negative.

“No further attention was paid to him after his Ebola virus result read negative, but the passenger later slumped and died around the port health office.

“This release is necessary to forestall the possible dissemination of unfounded and misleading media reports on the unfortunate incident.”

Sola