The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Thursday shut down a KFC facility in the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) over alleged discriminatory treatment of a passenger.
This is contained in a statement signed by Mrs. Obiageli Orah, Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, and made available to newsmen in Lagos.
Orah said the shutdown would be effective March 28 [today] in line with the Lagos State Law on people with Special Needs, Part C, Section 55 of the General Provisions on Discrimination, which states, “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 disabilityof that person.”
Orah said that the shutdown was as a result of a social media report by a Passenger with Reduced Mobility (PRM), alleging discriminatory treatment he received at the MMIA, Lagos.
According to the statement, the Managing Director/Chief Executive of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, intervened.
It stated that Kuku had swiftly deployed a management team comprising 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.
Orah said it was based on the findings of the team that FAAN had shut down the facility where the incident occurred.
She said that the Authority had instructed the KFC Management to tender an unreserved apology, in writing, to the affected PRM.
Also, a policy statement of non-discrimination must be written and pasted conspicuously at the doorpost of their facility at MMIA before it resumes operation.
“FAAN uses this medium to express our unreserved apology to the affected PRM and assures all airport users that we shall continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the rights of every passenger are not infringed upon,” Orah added. (NAN)
