The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has taken decisive action by closing a KFC outlet situated at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos following allegations of discriminatory treatment against a Passenger with Reduced Mobility (PRM).
The incident unfolded when Debola Daniel, son of former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel, disclosed his experience at the KFC branch in MMIA on his official social media page. According to Daniel, the restaurant staff denied him and his family entry, citing a policy prohibiting wheelchairs on the premises.
In response to the outcry, Obiageli Orah, FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, cited Lagos State laws on People with Special Needs, emphasizing the prohibition of discriminatory practices based on disability. Consequently, FAAN swiftly shut down the KFC facility at MMIA effective March 28, 2024.
Orah further stated that FAAN’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Olubunmi-Kuku, promptly dispatched a management team to investigate the matter. Based on their findings, FAAN ordered the KFC management to issue a written apology to the affected PRM and prominently display a non-discrimination policy statement at the facility’s entrance before resuming operations.
In addition to the closure, FAAN mandated that the KFC management issue an unreserved written apology to the affected PRM and display a non-discrimination policy statement at the MMIA facility’s entrance before resuming operations.
FAAN expressed sincere apologies to the affected Passenger with Reduced Mobility and reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the rights of all airport users. The authority pledged to continue working diligently to ensure that every passenger is treated with dignity and respect, without any form of discrimination.
