- By Halimah Olamide
Hours after son of former Governor Gbenga Daniel’s son, Debola called out a KFC outlet at the Murtala Muhammed Airport I, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has moved to shutdown the outlet.
Debola had taken to his social media handle to call out the brand over the discrimination, meted out on him, stating that was he awaiting his flight for London when he took a stop at the outlet in the airport only for a staff of the restaurant to say loudly, “NO WHEELCHAIRS ALLOWED.”
In reaction to this, FAAN has released a statement on Thursday signed by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, FAAN, Mrs Obiageli Orah.
“In line with the 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.
The statement revealed that the Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs Olubukunmu Kuku has also deployed a management team comprising of 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.
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“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.”