OPINION: The Airport We Want: Why Every Passenger Must Be Part Of The Solution

By Henry Agbebire

It is becoming increasingly common to encounter stories on social media from passengers and visitors who recount unpleasant experiences while travelling through some Nigerian airports.

While some speak of repeated checks and requests for gratification, others describe unnecessary delays and encounters that leave them frustrated, disappointed, and questioning the quality of service they receive.

This is unfortunate because air travel should evoke a different experience altogether. An international journey ought to be pleasant, seamless, and exciting.

Airports are gateways to opportunity, commerce, tourism, education, family reunions, and cultural exchange.

More importantly, they often provide the first and last impression visitors have of a country. When the airport experience becomes unsatisfactory, the damage extends beyond passenger inconvenience; it diminishes confidence in our systems and undermines the image we seek to project to the world.

Whether every account reflects the entire reality is not the point; perception matters. And when such narratives become recurring themes in public discourse, they deserve attention.

For those of us within the aviation industry, they are reminders that the journey towards a world-class airport system remains unfinished.

It is important to state that the campaign against illicit activities at Nigerian airports is neither new nor dormant.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), under the leadership of its Managing Director and Chief Executive, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, has continued to champion initiatives to improve professionalism, transparency, accountability, and the passenger experience.

The Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development has also demonstrated commitment to reforms designed to strengthen Nigeria’s standing within the global aviation community.

Engagements with aviation stakeholders, security agencies, and the Office of the National Security Adviser have yielded interventions such as enhanced monitoring systems, increased stakeholder collaboration, improved complaint channels, technology deployment, and a renewed emphasis on professional conduct.

There have been visible improvements, but the persistence of negative passenger experiences suggests that more work remains to be done.

One important truth must therefore be acknowledged. The fight against illicit activities cannot be won by institutions alone. Passengers have a critical role to play. Public attention naturally focuses on those who solicit unlawful payments.

However, illicit transactions often survive because there are participants on both sides of the exchange. This is not intended to excuse misconduct by any official.

Rather, it highlights a practical reality. Sustainable change requires collective responsibility.

The traveller carrying prohibited items, undeclared goods, forged documents, or other non-compliant materials may create circumstances that encourage attempts at compromise.

Likewise, travellers seeking shortcuts around established procedures can inadvertently fuel the very culture they later condemn. This is why passengers must become active partners in the campaign against illicit activities.

The most empowered passenger is the compliant passenger. A traveller who understands and follows the rules, arrives early, cooperates with lawful security procedures, and maintains proper documentation has little reason to fear legitimate scrutiny.

International aviation security standards developed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) recognise security screening as a fundamental pillar of civil aviation safety and security.

The purpose is not merely regulatory compliance; it is the protection of passengers, crew members, aircraft, airport infrastructure, and national interests. The challenge, therefore, is not the existence of security procedures.

The challenge is ensuring that such procedures are implemented efficiently, transparently, professionally, and without opportunities for abuse.

This is why conversations within the aviation sector increasingly focus on technology-driven solutions. Many leading airports around the world rely on integrated screening systems, advanced surveillance technologies, intelligence-led profiling, and centralised monitoring capabilities that reduce unnecessary physical interactions while maintaining high security standards. Nigeria’s aviation industry is already exploring similar innovations.

The future airport should be one where technology performs much of the routine verification process while trained personnel focus on genuine security concerns. It should combine security with efficiency and, above all, inspire confidence.

Every negative airport experience affects not only the individual traveller involved; it also shapes perceptions of Nigeria itself. That is why the campaign against illicit activities is not simply an airport matter; it is a national imperative.

For FAAN, the journey continues. The Authority’s culture transformation initiatives, stakeholder engagements, passenger service programmes, and anti-indiscipline campaigns reflect a commitment to creating airports that Nigerians can be proud of and that visitors can admire.

Transformation, however, is rarely instantaneous; it requires persistence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

As a nation, we must refuse to normalise illicit behaviour. We must reject the notion that corruption is an unavoidable cost of travel. And we must recognise that lasting change will require commitment from institutions, airport personnel, and passengers alike.

The next time you travel through a Nigerian airport, do the right thing. Comply with the rules. Decline to offer gratification.

Report misconduct through the appropriate channels. Remain patient, confident, and assertive. Demand professionalism, but also demonstrate responsibility.

The airport experience we desire is not built by institutions alone; it is built collectively. Every passenger who chooses integrity over convenience becomes a partner in the effort to build safer, more efficient, and more respected Nigerian airports.

The airport we want is possible. But all of us must be part of the solution.

Henry Agbebire, Director, Public Affairs & Consumer Protection, FAAN, writes from Lagos.

Wole Shadare