FAAN suspends airport officials over alleged extortion

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has apprehended and suspended some airport officials caught extorting a passenger at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

According to the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, the officials were staff of Aviation Security and Customer Service departments of the Authority.

She added that the suspects were “immediately suspended in line with the authority’s determination to rid the nation’s airport of corrupt officials, while the On-Duty Card of their accomplice from the Nigeria Immigration Service has been withdrawn.

“This action was taken to serve as a deterrent to other criminal-minded people in the system, who are bent on tarnishing the image of the nation.”

Recall that less than one month ago, a staff of Arik Air was suspended for alleged corrupt practices at the airport.

It appears that FAAN is really committed to ridding the nation’s airports of criminals, having been spotlighted in the media for harbouring touts and criminal elements at the airports.