THE battle to restore sanity at the nation’s airports is gradually intensifying as the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) apprehended and has suspended some of its officials caught extorting a passenger at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The airport managers who revealed that these staff are Aviation Security and Customer’s Service as well as the Nigeria Immigration Services have been relieved of their On Duty Card (ODC).
A statement by the airport management read, “In line with Management’s determination to rid the nation’s airport of corrupt officials, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has apprehended and suspended some officials caught extorting a passenger at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
“The officials, who are staff of Aviation Security and Customer Service departments of the Authority were immediately suspended, while the On Duty Card of their accomplice from the Nigeria Immigration Service has been withdrawn.
“This action was taken to serve as deterrent to other bad eggs in the system that are bent on tarnishing the image of the nation.
Recall that on November 9, 2021,FAAN apprehended and retracted the ODC of a staff of Arik airline who was soliciting bribe from a traveling passenger at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), Lagos.
The action is preceded by tons of embarrassing comments and video on social media indicating that Nigerian Airports are the most corrupt places where extortion is normalized.
This was followed by an emergency FAAN management meeting which had in attendance the MD/CE, Captain Rabiu Hamisu, Directors of the Authority, Special Adviser to the President on Ease of Doing Business, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Airport Managers and Airport Chiefs of Security.
They 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.
