By Kolawole Dickson, Lagos
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has reiterated its determination to eliminate touting at airports, despite facing resistance.
Speaking at an Iftar dinner with the Muslim community at Lagos airport, FAAN’s Managing Director, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, stated that the agency’s resolve to tackle the issue head-on.
Represented by Captain Abdullahi Mahmood, Director of Operations, Kuku also urged passengers to remain calm and avoid damaging airport or airline property due to flight disruptions as Sallah approaches.
Mahmood said: “Fighting and breaking things won’t do any good to anyone. I have never seen anywhere in the world where people do that. So, we need to be patient. We need to understand our rights, and we need to understand the airlines’ rights also. We need to understand that everyone has their rights.
“The airlines have rights. In as much as you have your rights as passengers, they have their rights also. Go to the airport on time and maintain good behaviour.
“We are making every effort to make sure that our airports are up to standard. We also want to make sure that the facilities at our airports are in place for full facilitation of our passengers’ travel.”
On touting, he said: “We are taking it seriously. It is not something that will change overnight. It is like fighting corruption, and it fights back. You have to understand some people are gaining from this (touting), and you want to move them out of what they are doing.
“No matter what it is, they will fight back, but we are ready. We are equal to the task. We are fighting and we are sensitising people to understand that what they are doing is wrong.”
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