By: Femi Mustapha
In its efforts to curtail incessant extortion of passengers by airport officials at the nation’s airports and steps being taken to address the situation, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has held an emergency meeting to check the ugly trends.
The General Manager, Corporate Affairs Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu stated this in a statement dated November 9, 2021.
The statement stated that the meeting had in attendance the Managing Director /Chief Executive MD/CE, Directors of the Authority, Special Adviser to the President on Ease of Doing Business, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Airport Managers and Airport Chiefs of Security.
“The meeting also resolved that henceforth, any erring airport official caught soliciting for bribes at the nation’s airports will be permanently denied access to working at the airports. Officials were also directed to always wear conspicuous name tags anytime they are on duty.
“The MD/CE, Captain Yadudu further directed the Airport Managers to ensure that all stakeholders at the airports are properly sensitized on the new development as there will be no sacred cows.
“Recent embarrassing online videos where passengers complained of acts of extortion at the nation’s airport had necessitated the need to devise multi-level strategies to curb the menace.”
The statement added that a staff of Arik airline had been apprehended while soliciting a bribe from a traveling passenger at the General Aviation Terminal, Lagos.
The On Duty Card of the erring staff has been withdrawn immediately, and she has been handed over to a relevant security agency for appropriate action to serve as a deterrent to other bad eggs in the airport.
