The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has shut down a KFC facility in the Murtala Muhammed International Airport over alleged discriminatory treatment of a passenger.

Obiageli Orah, FAAN’s spokeswoman, announced the shutdown in a statement on Thursday.

FAAN said the shutdown would be effective March 28, in accordance with the Lagos law on people with special needs, Part C, Section 55 of the General Provisions on Discrimination.

The law stated that “a person shall not deprive another person of access to any place, vehicle or facility that members of the public are entitled to enter or use on the basis of the disability of that person.”

The statement said the shutdown resulted from a social media report by a passenger with reduced mobility who alleged discriminatory treatment he received at the MMIA, Lagos.

FAAN’s decision was made after Debola, ex-Governor Gbenga Daniel’s son, ranted about being denied entry because of his wheelchair and lack of inclusion at the facility. 

According to the statement, the FAAN managing director, Olubunmi Kuku, intervened.

According to the statement, Ms Kuku swiftly deployed a management team comprising Ms Orah, the regional manager of South-West, Sunday Ayodele, the acting general manager of public affairs, Ijeoma Nwosu-Igbo, and the international terminal manager, Kerri, to investigate the allegation.

The statement also mentioned that it was based on the findings of the team that FAAN had shut down the facility where the incident occurred.

It revealed that FAAN had instructed KFC management to write an unreserved apology to the affected individual.

Also, FAAN directed that a policy statement of non-discrimination be written and pasted conspicuously at the doorpost of their facility at MMIA before it resumes operation.

“FAAN uses this medium to express our unreserved apology to the affected PRM and assures all airport users that we shall continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the rights of every passenger are not infringed upon,” the statement added. 

(NAN)