The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) announced the closure of a branch of the popular fast-food chain, KFC, located at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos State.
According to a statement released on Thursday by FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs. Obiageli Orah, titled “FAAN shuts down KFC outlet at MMIA,” the closure was due to the outlet’s violation of Lagos State law regarding People with Special Needs, as outlined in Part C, Section 55 of General Provisions on Discrimination.
The directive to close the outlet was prompted by a social media report from a Passenger with Reduced Mobility who claimed to have experienced discriminatory treatment at the airport.
It read, “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”, the management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has closed the KFC facility at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos with effect from March 28, 2024.
“This is as a result of a social media report by a Passenger with Reduced Mobility (PRM), alleging discriminatory treatment he received at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
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“The MD/CE 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; Ag. General Manager Public Affairs, Mrs Ijeoma Nwosu-Igbo and the International Terminal Manager, Mr. Kerri, to investigate the allegation.”
FAAN said, “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 authority has instructed that the KFC Management should tender an unreserved apology, in writing, to the affected PRM and a policy statement of non-discrimination be written and pasted 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.”
Adebola Daniel, son of former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel and victim of maltreatment, shared his airport ordeal in a series of tweets via his Twitter handle, @DebolaDaniel, on Wednesday.
Recounting his experience at the KFC outlet in the airport, Daniel, a wheelchair user, described it as “the worst form of public humiliation” he had ever endured. Originally from Ogun State, Daniel explained that the incident occurred during his planned trip from Lagos to London with Virgin Atlantic.
Despite his familiarity with security and immigration procedures as a frequent traveler in previous years, he typically awaited his flight in the Oasis lounge of the airport.
