FAAN apprehends Arik staff for extortion at Lagos airport

 A staff of Ari Air has been apprehended for soliciting a bribe from a traveller at the domestic wing of the Lagos airport by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

Extortion by airline staff and security operatives has become one of the major concerns of the authority as it has promised to arrest any security official and airline officials soliciting bribes, an action that destroys the image of the country.

This is coming as FAAN Management held a meeting on the incessant extortion of passengers by airport officials at the nation’s airports and steps being taken to address the situation.

The meeting had in attendance the Managing Directors of the authority, Capt Hamisu Yadudu,  Special Adviser to the President on Ease of Doing Business, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Airport Managers and Airport Chiefs of Security.

The On Duty Card of the erring staff had been withdrawn immediately, and she had been handed over to the relevant security agency for appropriate action in order to serve as a deterrent to other bad eggs in the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 would 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 MD/CE, Captain Yadudu further directed the Airport Managers to ensure that all stakeholders at the airports are properly sensitized to the new development as there will be no sacred cows.