The Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, has expressed deep concern over the ongoing harassment and extortion of passengers at the airports, emphasising her commitment to creating a seamless and pleasant experience for travellers. Consequently, she has launched an extensive campaign to crack down on illegal activities and vowed to eliminate touting, extortion, and illicit activities at the airports by establishing a dedicated task force.

To spearhead this initiative, Mr. Henry Agbebire, Director of Special Duties at FAAN, has been appointed as the chairman of the task force. She has also declared her intention to personally engage with all government agencies operating at the airports to ensure compliance with the anti-touting and anti-extortion measures. Warning all airport personnel, including FAAN staff, Kuku stated that strict disciplinary actions would be taken against anyone found engaging in illicit practices, adding that the era of business as usual is over and highlighting FAAN’s zero-tolerance policy towards misconduct.

The FAAN MD announced plans to establish magistrate courts at international airports to expedite the legal process for prosecuting offenders. The task force has been mandated to enforce discipline among airport staff and maintain a culture of professionalism at all levels.

In addition, dedicated phone lines and QR codes will be set up to provide passengers with a means of providing feedback on their airport experience. She emphasised that all airport personnel must prominently display their on-duty cards and name tags for easy identification and accountability.