Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Barrister Festus Keyamo (SAN) has called on personnel of agencies and ministries operating in the nation’s airports to cooperate with Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in its bid to make the airports conducive for passengers, or get thrown out.
He gave the warning over the weekend after undertaking an official tour of facilities at Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos.
Keyamo who was accompanied during the facility tour by the Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, Director of Engineering, FAAN, Engr. Muniru Abiola; Director of Airports Operations, Capt Abdullahi Mamood and other top management staff of FAAN, told journalists that his ministry will support FAAN to throw out any personnel of any agency or Ministry operating in the airport, acting contrary to the laid down rules and regulations of the airports
“We are the landlord, they are not under our employment. We are not their bosses, but we are their landlords. You see the last time when there was an incident here on tape, we threw that particular personnel out of the airport. So we have passed as FAAN to throw out any personnel from any agency at the airport who is actually crossing the line. We can throw the person out. Whether it is Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) or anybody for that matter. And that is why the other person who was caught on tape the other time, we can see that he was thrown out of the airport,” he said.
The Minister who expressed satisfaction with the level of improvement achieved on the operations at the Lagos Airport, lauded the management of FAAN under Mrs Kuku for living up to expectations and keeping to the mandate given her.
He said: “There is a great improvement here. The management and staff, they worked very hard at making this place look very welcoming and a big lift from where it was before. This is not where we are going. This is not our big plan for the airport.
“But this is a low-hanging fruit we can hang on to for now. We want to make the place as conducive as possible for passengers who are coming into Nigeria. And that is why you can see that the management, they have actually initiated very simple ideas and executed very simple ideas to make the place very cozy.”
On the embarrassing issues of extortion and harassment of passengers by some uniformed men, Keyamo said FAAN has taken steps to address the situation with the installation of gadgets and signages that will discourage anyone from engaging in the criminal acts.
“For instance, I want to show Nigerians this in particular. Now, we have been very concerned, Nigerians have been very concerned about the issue of harassment at the airport, touting at the airport, extortion by even uniformed personnel,” he continued, “Now, our first step in addressing this issue is what you have seen here. So for Nigerians, please look at this. When you come into the E-Wing of the international airport in Lagos, you are going to see a signage discouraging, touting, extortion and general harassment of passengers coming into Nigeria.”
He added, “there is a QR code. You must make use of it. Don’t come and go to the media and complain that there was nobody to speak to when you are harassed by law enforcement agencies. Use the QR code, use the hotlines and make a call there and then. Don’t say, oh, there was nobody, they dragged you to one corner and they took money from you. Make that call. Pick your phone and make that call and you will be attended to.”
While he affirmed that the border control personnel have been put under intensive surveillance to prevent extortion or harassment of passengers, the Minister however called on passengers and other airport users to also show courtesy and respect while interfacing with the border control officials.
“We also encourage people to be courteous, to be respectful also to the law enforcement agencies at the borders. But at the same time, we have also taken measures to ensure that we put a leash around our own law enforcement agencies.
“So here you will see it and you will see not only this, you will see it as strategic positions around the airport. It is not all the final solution to it but this is the first big step towards addressing the issue of touting.
“So we encourage Nigerians to use it. So what you have seen here today, gentlemen, are just simple ideas that a very hardworking management has implemented to make the place customer friendly,” he concluded.
I am so happy to this input by the minister of Aviation. It is a welcome development. However effort should be put in place to checkmate toxic passengers. Some passengers can be so hostile and uncultured but nevertheless, uniform personnel should be very professional in their line of duty and exhibit the act of hostmanship. Effort should be put in place to protect uniform men that are being attacked either physically or verbally by those hostile passengers. Serious investigation should be paramount in solving this anomaly.