Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, weekend warned security personnel deployed to the airports across the country to desist from tarnishing the image of Nigeria by harassing visitors.
He warned that the authority will not hesitate to throw anyone found culpable out of the facility where they operate.
An official of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) was recently caught on camera soliciting for gratification from a foreigner who was travelling through the international airport and was promptly removed from the location.
He spoke while unveiling a digital display signboard that discourages touting, extortion and general harassment of passengers coming into Nigeria at the international airport in Lagos.
He said the first step towards addressing the embarrassing situation is the launch of a QR code that enables a victim to place a call to the hotline provided for immediate attention.
Mr. Keyamo said: “We have been very concerned, Nigerians have been very concerned about the issue of harassment at the airport, touting at the airport, extortion by even uniformed personnel. Now, our first step in addressing this issue is what you have seen here.
“So, for Nigerians, when you come into the E-Wing of the international airport in Lagos, you are going to see a sign discouraging touting, extortion and general harassment of passengers coming into Nigeria. “Now, there is a QR code. You must make use of it. Don’t come and go to the media and complain that there is nobody to speak to when you are harassed by law enforcement agencies.”
The minister added that “Use the QR code, use the hotlines and make a call there and then. Don’t say, oh, there was nobody, they dragged you to one corner and they took money from you. Make that call.”
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