The management of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has apprehended an airline official attached to Arik Airline for allegedly soliciting a bribe from a travelling passenger at the General Aviation Terminal, Lagos.
Recall that the FAAN managing director, Capt. Rabiu Yaduda, had told journalists in Abuja on Monday that the indiscipline at the airports had become embarrassing to FAAN and Nigeria.
A statement by FAAN’s general manager, corporate affairs, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, read in part: “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 has been apprehended while soliciting a bribe from a travelling 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“The ‘on-duty’ card of the erring staff has been withdrawn immediately and she has been handed over to the relevant security agency for appropriate action to serve as a deterrent to other bad eggs in the airports.”
It said the recent embarrassing online videos where passengers complained of acts of extortion at the nation’s airports necessitated the need to devise a multi-level strategy to curb the menace.
“The meeting also resolved that, henceforth, any airport official caught soliciting for bribes at the nation’s airports will be permanently denied access to the airports. Officials were also directed to always wear conspicuous name tags whenever they are on duty.
“The MD/CE, Capt. Yadudu, further directed the airport managers to ensure that all stakeholders at the airports are properly sensitised on the new development; there will be no sacred cows,” it added.
