FAAN apprehends Arik Air’s Staff over bribery allegations

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has apprehended a staff of Arik Air for demanding a bribe from a travelling passenger at the General Aviation Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

According to a statement signed by the Authority’s General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, the erring staff was stripped of her On-Duty Card immediately, and was handed over to the relevant security agency for appropriate action.

The Authority said the arrest was in reaction to “recent embarrassing online videos where passengers complained of acts of extortion at the nation’s airport,” and should serve as a deterrent to others who are on the bandwagon of using delay tactics to extort money from unsuspecting travellers.

Prior to the arrest, the FAAN Management had an emergency meeting with the Special Adviser to the President on Ease of Doing Business, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole on how to tackle cases of incessant extortion of passengers by airport officials.

The meeting, according to FAAN, 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 will 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 Managing Director of FAAN, Captain Yadudu further directed the Airport Managers to ensure that all stakeholders at the airports are properly sensitized to be in tune with the new development, as there will be no sacred cows.