Claim1: A viral TikTok video alleges that Sierra Leone loaned an airport from Turkey.
Claim 2- In the same video it is claimed that the airport security fee has been raised from $25 per entry to $35 per entry.
Verdict: CLAIM 1- FALSE
CLAIM 2- FALSE
Context: The viral TikTok video by a Sierra Leonean user, known as MK, has garnered significant attention, with 3218 likes and 309 comments. However, the claims made in the video regarding Sierra Leone's airport and security fee require factual clarification.
Evidence:
Sierra Leone Airport Construction: The claim that Sierra Leone loaned an airport from Turkey is inaccurate. In reality, the airport project in Sierra Leone is a build, operate, and transfer (BOT) initiative between the private Turkish Summa Group and the Government of Sierra Leone. The project involves an investment of US$270 million, not a loan from Turkey.
Airport Security Fee: The assertion that the airport security fee has been raised from $25 per entry to $35 per entry is also false. The official airport security fee for Sierra Leone remains unchanged at $25 per entry. Therefore, the total cost for both entry and exit stands at $50, not $70 as claimed in the video,
Conclusion: The claims circulating in the viral TikTok video regarding Sierra Leone's airport and security fee increase are false. Sierra Leone did not loan an airport from Turkey; rather, it is a collaborative project between the Sierra Leonean government and the Turkish Summa Group. Additionally, the airport security fee remains at $25 per entry, contrary to the misinformation presented in the video.
Note: The video underwent editing to remove sections containing language deemed unacceptable, which violated our professional ethics and generally accepted moral standards.
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