Posted by Sade Williams
The management of Arik Air said it has suspended with immediate effect, one of its staff arrested by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for soliciting bribe at the domestic wing of the Murtala Mohammed International, Ikeja, Lagos, pending further investigations.
A statement released by the airline on Wednesday, said while the management conducts its own internal investigation, ‘we wish to reassure FAAN of our cooperation on this matter if further investigation is required. We fully support what FAAN is doing to rid our airports of this menace of corruption.’
FAAN had on Tuesday, apprehended a staff of Arik Air at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of Lagos Airport for soliciting bribe from a passenger.
The Authority in a statement signed by Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, the FAAN’s spokesperson, said the On Duty Card of the erring staff has been withdrawn immediately, and she has been handed over to the relevant security agency for appropriate action in order to serve as deterrent to other bad eggs in the airport.
‘’Following an emergency FAAN Management meeting on the incessant extortion of passengers by airport officials at the nation’s airports and steps being taken to address the situation, which had in attendance the MD/CE, Directors of the Authority, Special Adviser to the President on Ease of Doing Business, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Airport Managers and Airport Chiefs of Security, a staff of Arik airline had been apprehended while soliciting bribe from a travelling passenger at the General Aviation Terminal, Lagos.
‘’Recent embarrassing online videos where passengers complained of acts of extortion at the nation’s airport had necessitated the need to devise multi-level strategies to curb the menace.
The meeting, the FAAN statement said, also resolved that henceforth, any erring airport official caught soliciting for bribes at the nation’s airports will be permanently denied access to working at the airports. Officials were also directed to always wear conspicuous name tags anytime they are on duty.
It added that the Managing director of FAAN, Captain Hamisu Yadudu further directed the Airport Managers to ensure that all stakeholders at the airports are properly sensitized on the new development as there will be no sacred cows.
