Panic at Abuja Airport, as Military Officials confiscate Placards (Photos)

There was pandemonium in Abuja on Sunday, July 24, moments after the FIFA president Gianni Infantino landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport amongst other officials including the secretary general of the world’s football governing body Ms Fatima Samoura.

The delegation was received by top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) including its president Amaju Pinnick.

However, the scenario took a dramatic turn when men in military uniform descended heavily on fans who had raised different placards to welcome the FIFA boss.

Some of the security agents were seen confiscating some of the banners as well as cardboards with various positive inscriptions to welcome the FIFA delegation.

See ph0tos below:

Soldiers confiscate placards

Security officials stop fans from welcoming the FIFA president, seize their placards

The moment the FIFA president Gianni Infantino emerged from the arrivals lounge

The FIFA president was welcomed by top NFF officials amid tight security

A dance troupe entertained the visitors at the airport

An airport worker appeared to be taking ths confiscated placards away

Meanwhile, a 10 –year old girl handed the 46 –year old multi –lingual Infantino a bouquet of flowers as the train emerged from the arrival hall, and a cultural troupe entertained in the foreground as Infantino and Samoura walked on the red carpet to waiting cars.

At the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Pinnick accompanied Infantino to the presidential suite, and meetings between the FIFA President and the NFF Board and with the visiting FA presidents from other African countries, as well as a cocktail dinner were on the programme for the night.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino (m), NFF President Amaju Pinnick (r) and other top NFF officials

A total of 17 FA presidents from other African countries arrived in Nigeria on Saturday to join the NFF in receiving Infantino. These are Kwesi Nyantakyi (Ghana), Lamin Kaba Bajo (The Gambia), Isha Johansen (Sierra Leone), Musa Bility (Liberia), Juneidi Basha Tilmo (Ethiopia), Nicholas Kithuku (Kenya), Andrew Chamanga (Zambia), Philip Chiyangwa (Zimbabwe), Frans Mbidi (Namibia), Chabur Goc Alei (South Sudan), Walter Nyamilandu (Malawi), Abdiqani Said Arab (Somalia), Vincent Nzamwita (Rwanda), Moses Magogo (Uganda), Jamal Malinzi (Tanzania), Augustin Senghor (Senegal) and Souleman Waberi (Djibouti).

On Monday, July 25, Infantino and Samoura, alongside Sports Minister Solomon Dalung, NFF President Pinnick, chairmen of the Senate and House sports committees, NFF general secretary and other NFF Board members, and the visiting FA presidents from other African countries, will pay a courtesy call on His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.

Also on the programme for Monday is an U13 exhibition football match at the National Stadium, visit to the new NFF headquarters and a business dinner with Nigeria’s political heavyweights and captains of industry.