Market News

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has arrested over 90 touts as part of its drive to rid the nation’s airports of touting and extortion.

Out of the 90 arrested at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA), Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, 89 of them have been handed over to the police.

Daily Trust reports that the federal government had recently declared war on touting at the airports following outcries over the prevalence of extortion, bribery at the airports.

The decision to set up a committee against touting came after a stakeholders’ meeting which involved the office of the Presidential Committee on Ease of Doing Business led by Mrs. Jumoke Oduwole.

The General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu disclosed that over 90 persons, caught at both the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, carrying out nefarious activities have been arrested.

She said the touts were arrested for various acts of illegality including Fake Covid-19 test results, touting, unauthorised entry, trespass, illegal facilitation, forgery, loitering, theft, public nuisance, and arguments, amongst others.

Some of those arrested are staff of Patovilki Nigeria Limited, Lakewood Services, Nahco Plc, and other airport staff.

Of the total arrested, 59 were handed over to the airport police command in Abuja for prosecution, while 30 were handed over to the police force in Lagos for the same.

“FAAN will like to use this opportunity to warn those that do not have any legitimate business at the airports, as well as airport staff carrying out illegal duties to desist from such acts, as the Authority will not hesitate to arrest and hand over such individuals for prosecution,” the statement by Yakubu said.

However, a source at the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company wondered how the Authority went to press without verifying the identity of those arrested.

In a statement, the management of NAHCO however expressed support for the authority in its bid to rid the airports of touting and other vices.

The handling company in a statement said, “We commend the move.

“NAHCO is a responsible player in the industry, (and) as such, will not condone any form of illegality. We urge FAAN to always carry us along in this fight. The current move will in no small measure help our industry to grow as well as bring sanity to the airports.

“We will however engage FAAN, to provide us the details of our personnel alleged to be involved, to enable us to activate our internal disciplinary process as we currently do not have any clue as to who is involved, when, and in what capacity.”