The Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Olubunmi Kuku has ordered that every form of extortion by security officers at the airports, especially Lagos Airport, stop.
She gave the order while addressing Heads of Security Agencies of Murtala Muhammed International Airport , Lagos to flag off the “Operation Air Clean” exercise which aims to focus on key areas of passenger facilitation at the airport recently.
Kuku lamented that she has been receiving messages of complaints of extortion from passengers, investors, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The FAAN MD was particular about the poor level of ethics displayed by the Aviation Security (AVSEC) officers who demand for incentives from passengers.She added that some officers involved in the act are giving returns to their superior officers.
Speaking further, she disclosed that some Customs and AVSEC officers give the excuse that they are not being paid pension and extortion is a way of getting it.
Olubunmi Kuku gave a stern warning that any officer found guilty of the offence will face the wrath of the law.
She said ” Investors are complaining. The number of messages that I receive from passengers, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, and the president is insane, especially from Lagos Airport.
“I want to focus on AVSEC. You represent an organization and agency. The way you engage passengers is unacceptable.I’ve heard of officers saying ” Aunty wetin you bring come for us?”, ” Aunty open your bag”.I also heard that some officers collected a necklace gift from some Chinese passengers.
“I have gotten feedback from AVSEC officers and Customs saying that they are not collecting pension and this is the way for them to generate or earn their pension.This has to stop and I have a very clear directive. These goes to the team leaders ,Heads of Departments and Heads of organizations at the airport.If your organization is found wanting ,then it means that you as a leader have failed and I have failed. This has to stop.
“I also hear that agencies are giving returns to their bosses. The airport is no longer a place to come and make money. If anybody in your organization is asking you to give returns ,tell them you don’t want to come here because the penalties will be stiff.” she said.
