The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has banned passengers from using travel sacks, popularly called “Ghana Must Go” bags at all the nation’s airports.
The Nigerian action follows a March 2017 ban on Nigerian travellers to Dubai Airports, in a new baggage rule that rejected bags without flat surfaces.
The popular keep-all sack came under ban because it cost the airlines huge losses and also damaged the airports conveyor belt system, the agency said.
In a circular by FAAN, titled, “Re: Prohibition of Usage Of Ghana Must Go,” signed by Manager, Airport Services, Henok Gizachew, on November 24, the authority said the ban was particularly for passengers travelling through the country’s international airports.
He noted that passengers, who wished to use Ghana-Must-Go bags must keep them inside more solid, rectangular-shaped cartons.
Ghana-Must-Go bags are matted woven sacks. They are quite popular among majority of Nigerians and other African countries, especially Ghana.
They are used by both the rich, poor and middle class. They come in various sizes, colours and designs. The bags have no special name; different countries have different names for them.
The bags became well-known during the 1983 Ghana-Must-Go saga under the presidential regime of Shehu Shagari.
In Dubai, the ban was reportedly to prevent blockages in Dubai airports’ baggage-handling system.
“Dubai International provides some of the most sophisticated baggage systems in the world,” said Ali Angizeh, vice president of terminal operations at Dubai International. However, even the most technologically advanced systems can be disrupted by oversized or irregular-shaped bags. Bags that are round or do not have a flat surface of any kind are by far the largest cause of baggage jams.
“These jams can shut down sections of our system, delay the delivery of baggage to the aircraft and inconvenience -customers.
“We are trying to get the message out there as much as possible.
“Passengers who show up at the airport with non-compliant baggage, will also be given the option to have it repacked in boxes, for a fee.”
John Dyett, head of baggage operations at the airport, said on many occasions the bags in question were unsecured and simply wrapped in plastic and tied with rope.
“This type of baggage will be placed into cardboard boxes, which are flat sided and as a result can go through our system without causing blockages,” he said.