The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has confirmed that it has shut down a popular multinational eatery, KFC, located at the Murtala Muhammed International Airports (MMIA), Lagos for alleged maltreatment of physically challenged passenger.
In a statement signed by the Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs Obiageli Orah, FAAN explained that it shut down the facility with effect from March 28, 2023 in line with Lagos State law on People with Special Needs , Part C , section 55 of General Provisions on Discrimination which states that ,” A person shall not deprive another person of access to any place , vehicle or facility that members of the public are entitled to enter or use on the basis of the disability of that person.”
So, on the strength of the aforementioned law, “the management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has closed the KFC facility at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos with effect from March 28, 2024,” after confirming the incident.
The Director further explained that the reaction of FAAN to the incident was “as a result of a social media report by a passenger with Reduced Mobility (physically challenged), alleging discriminatory treatment he received from the eatery at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The statement also disclosed that the Managing Director and Chief Executive of FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku intervened swiftly by deploying a management team comprising the Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs Obiageli Orah, the Regional Manager South West, Mr Sunday Ayodele, acting General Manager Public Affairs, Mrs Ijeoma Nwosu-Igbo and the International Terminal Manager, Mr Kerri, to investigate the allegation .
“It is based on the findings of the team that FAAN has shut down the KFC facility at the MMA, where the incident occurred,” the agency said.
FAAN has also given a condition for the reopening of the facility and directed KFC management to tender an unreserved apology in writing to the affected passenger and write a policy statement of non-discrimination and paste it conspicuously at the door post of their facility at MMIA before it resumes operation.
“FAAN uses this medium to express our unreserved apology to the affected passenger with Reduced Mobility and assures all airport users that we shall continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the rights of every passenger are not infringed upon,” the agency said.
