The call for sanity and professionalism at Nigeria’s international gateways has once again taken center stage following a direct appeal by a Nigerian Senator to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo Senator Osita Izunaso Imo West made a passionate plea to the Minister to take decisive action against the disturbing trend of officials from key government agencies stationed at airports who routinely engage in begging harassment and outright extortion of incoming and outgoing travellers .
This unwholesome practice which has generated widespread public outrage and damaged the nations international reputation has become a significant focal point for the current administrations efforts to reform public service and restore dignity to national institutions .
The Senatorial Intervention
During a session in Abuja Senator Osita Izunaso highlighted the severe embarrassment and frustration this unprofessional conduct inflicts upon passengers especially foreign visitors and Nigerians returning home The Senator specifically mentioned officials from agencies such as the Nigeria Customs Service NCS and the Nigeria Immigration Service NIS as being particularly involved in this misconduct even though they do not fall directly under the administrative control of the Ministry of Aviation .
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The core of the Senators message was the need for the Minister as the principal figure overseeing the aviation sector to coordinate with his counterparts in other ministries to ensure a unified and disciplined approach He stressed that the nations airports are often the first and last impression visitors have of Nigeria and allowing such behaviour undermines any efforts to promote tourism attract foreign investment and project a respectable national image .
Minister Keyamos Prior Commitment
It is important to note that this senatorial call comes on the heels of previous commitments made by the Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo to address the same issue Months earlier in response to mounting public complaints and viral videos documenting the harassment Minister Keyamo had acknowledged the gravity of the situation .
He took to public platforms to express his concern and clarify that while the agencies in question operate at the airports they are primarily controlled by their parent ministries and agencies like the Ministry of Interior for Immigration and the Ministry of Finance for Customs However he assured the public that a collaborative effort was being coordinated under the direction of the National Security Adviser NSA to comprehensively tackle the ugly tide This proactive stance was aimed at implementing enhanced oversight and enforcement protocols to clean up the airport environments .
Agency-Level Efforts to Combat Extortion
Beyond the Ministers inter-ministerial efforts the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN has also taken significant steps to eradicate this menace The Managing Director of FAAN Mrs Olubunmi Kuku has openly addressed the issue of touting extortion and illicit activities .
In a strong demonstration of commitment FAAN established a dedicated task force to monitor airport activities and enforce discipline among its staff and other personnel Mrs Kuku warned that a zero-tolerance policy was in effect and any airport personnel including FAAN staff found soliciting or extorting passengers would face strict disciplinary actions Furthermore there were announced plans to establish magistrate courts at international airports to expedite the prosecution of offenders thereby sending a clear deterrent message FAAN also encouraged passengers to provide feedback via dedicated phone lines and QR codes and mandated that all airport personnel must prominently display their on-duty cards and name tags for easy identification and accountability .
The Imperative for Coordinated Action
The repeated public outcry and the recent senatorial directive underscore that the problem is deeply rooted and requires sustained top-level political will to resolve While the Ministry of Aviation can only exert indirect influence over non-aviation agencies the expectation remains that the Minister as the sector head must champion the sanitisation of the airport environment .
The successful implementation of measures by the various agencies involved—Customs Immigration Police FAAN and others—hinges on seamless coordination and a shared commitment to professionalism The integrity of Nigerias international airports is a non-negotiable gateway to the nations economy and its global standing The Senators urge serves as a timely reminder that rhetoric must translate into visible and lasting change for the travelling public .
Disclaimer
The news information presented here is based on available reports and reliable sources concerning the statements made by the Nigerian Senator and the actions of the Ministry of Aviation and related agencies Readers should cross-check updates from official news outlets and government communiques for the latest information on airport policies and enforcement .