FAAN set to end touting at airports

The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mr. Saleh Dunoma, has said that the agency has commenced the process of ending touting and other vices at airports across the country.

Dunoma said in a statement on Sunday by the Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, that the development was part of efforts to implement the Executive Order signed by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.

According to Dunoma, Osinbajo had ordered that there touting by official or unofficial persons must end at all the ports of entry to the country and that on duty staff must be properly identified by uniform and official cards, while off duty staff must stay away from the ports except with the express approval of the agency head.

The acting President had also said that all non-official staff should be removed from the secured areas of airports and that any official caught soliciting or receiving bribes from passengers or other port users would be subjected to immediate removal from the post and would face disciplinary as well as criminal proceedings in line with extant laws and regulations

Dunoma said there would be full compliance, adding that the necessary machinery had been put in place to ensure a successful implementation of the order, which he would personally supervise.

“The importance of the Executive Order cannot be overemphasized, especially because it will strengthen the nation’s fight against terrorism, eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy that impedes business activities at our airports, improve safety, security and passenger facilitation within and around the airports,” he said.

Dunoma also urged passengers, airport users and the general public to cooperate with FAAN officials saddled with the task of carrying out the responsibility.