Extortion: FAAN apprehends airline staff at Lagos Airport

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigerian (FAAN) has announced that it apprehended a staff of Nigerian carrier, Arik Air, for soliciting and collecting bribe from a passenger.

FAAN which did not identify the name of suspect, explained in a statement, “Following an emergency FAAN management meeting on the incessant extortion of passengers by airport officials at the nation’s airports and steps being taken to address the situation, which had in attendance the 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, a staff of Arik airline had been apprehended while soliciting bribe from a travelling passenger at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), Lagos.”

The agency said in the statement signed by its spokesperson, Mrs. Henrrieta Yakubu that the On- Duty Card of the erring staff had been withdrawn immediately, and she has been handed over to the relevant security agency for appropriate action in order to serve as deterrent to other bad eggs in the airport.

“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 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 statement stated.

It also states that the FAAN Managing Director, Captain Rabiu Yadudu had further directed the airport managers to ensure that all stakeholders at the airports were properly sensitized on the new development “as there will be no sacred cows.”

(Courtesy THISDAY)