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Executive orders: FAAN removes check ‘bribe’ tables at Lagos airport departure hall
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has registered its satisfaction on the success with the compliance on Executive Order by agencies at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos.
The agency said the physical check tables at the departure hall of the terminal is been removed, also the desks belonging to Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) following the last screening by the FAAN’s Aviation Security.
Many of the security personnel at the airport use the excuse to physically check passengers’ luggage extort money from intending travellers.
For many years, a long table is strategically positioned beside check-in counters. Officials from the Nigeria Customs, Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Quarantine Service, Nigeria Immigration Service and other security personnel take turn to check the same luggage, thereby creating delays for airlines to check-in passengers and also leading to several hours just for check-in.
In other climes, it takes less than 20 minutes to check-in and go through screening. In Nigeria, it could take as long as three hours or more.
Managing Director of FAAN, Saleh Dunoma expressed the agency’s satisfaction while inspecting the terminal to ascertain the level of compliance by participating agencies.
“The desks that have been there for manual search are no longer there. The checks are being done at appropriate locations and this has created a tidy hall. This has improved the ambience of the departure hall. Of course, we have some issues that have to do with the first day normally in any operations. We are trying to resolve that”, said FAAN MD
“We have asked the management of the airport to come up with a complete and comprehensive report with the issues emanating from this operation, so we can further proffer solutions. The whole terminal is very neat and tidy now.”
The Executive Order as directed by the Acting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has commenced at the country’s busiest airport.
Dunoma also used this medium to implore passengers to arrive the terminal early enough because of the new arrangement. “My advice to passengers is that they should come in good time, so they can accomplish the process as scheduled. There are some new locations and process of screening, so they earlier the come the easier for stakeholders especially the airlines and the security agencies to finish their procedures”.
Commenting on Delta Airlines’ issue with their procedures, Dunoma said, “It is not anything peculiar. They want to do certain checks; we will tell them where to do the checks. We are not stopping anybody from checking anything, so long as it is in line with global standard of practice. The Executive Order does not stop that. We will handle Delta Airline issue.
