Passenger extortion: FAAN apprehends Arik airline official

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has apprehended an official of Arik airline while soliciting bribe from a passenger at the general aviation terminal in Lagos.

Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, General Manager, Corporate Affairs of FAAN confirmed the development in a statement in Lagos.

Yakubu said that this called for concern at 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.

She said that the on-duty card of the erring staff member was withdrawn immediately, and she was handed over to the relevant security agency for appropriate action in order to serve as deterrent to other bad eggs in the airport.

According to her, 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.

Yakubu said that the managing director, FAAN, Capt. Rabiu Yadudu, directors of the Authority, Special Adviser to the President on Ease of Doing Business, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Airport Managers and Airport Chiefs of Security were in attendance.

She said that the meeting also resolved that henceforth, any erring airport official caught soliciting 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,” she said.

Meanwhile, the management of Arik Air has suspended the affected official asking for bribe at the domestic wing of the Murtala Mohammed International, Lagos, pending further investigations.