By Adedapo Adesanya
The management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Thursday closed the KFC facility at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The incident occurred on Wednesday after a Twitter user, Mr Debola Daniel, identified as a son of the former governor of Ogun State, Mr Gbenga Daniel, lamented the treatment he faced as a person living with a disability.
In a post on the social media platform, he claimed he was not treated fairly because of his condition, as the outlet refused him to use his wheelchair.
In a series of tweets, he called out the manager of the establishment who blatantly told him no wheelchair was allowed on the premises.
According to a statement signed by Mrs Obiageli Orah, the agency’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, following the reactions, MMIA on Thursday moved to close the outlet at the airport which is in line with Lagos State law on People with Special Needs, Part C, section 55 of General Provisions on Discrimination.
The law states 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.”
“This is as a result of a social media report by a Passenger with Reduced Mobility (PRM), alleging discriminatory treatment he received at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos,” the statement added.
Following the development, the Managing Director/Chief Executive of FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi, Kuku deployed a management team comprising Mrs Orah, the Regional Manager South West, Mr Sunday Ayodele, Ag. General Manager Public Affairs, Mrs Ijeoma Nwosu-Igbo and the International Terminal Manager, Mr Kerri, to investigate the allegation.
After its findings, FAAN shut down the KFC facility where the incident occurred.
It also instructed that the management of KFC to tender an unreserved apology in writing to the affected PRM and a policy statement of non-discrimination be written and pasted conspicuously at the door post of their facility at MMIA before it resumes operation.
“FAAN uses this medium to express our unreserved apology to the affected Passenger with Reduced Mobility 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.