By Chinelo Obogo
The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), has shut down a KFC branch at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos over discrimination against a physically challenged customer with effect from March 28, 2024.
In a statement signed by the Authority’s Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs. Obiageli Orah, the eatery was shut down because it violated the Lagos State Law on People with Special Needs.
“In line with Lagos State law on People with Special Needs, Part C, section 55 of General Provisions on Discrimination which 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 MD/CE of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi, Kuku intervened swiftly by deploying a management team to investigate the allegation. It is based on the findings of the team that FAAN has shut down the KFC facility at the MMA, where the incident occurred.
“The Authority has instructed that the KFC management should 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 read.
Adebola Daniel, a son of former Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, who is the victim of the discrimination, said on his X handle on Wednesday that he experienced “the worst sort of public humiliation” at KFC.
Narrating his ordeal, Daniel who uses a wheel chair, said his ordeal started during his planned trip to London from Lagos. He stated that in the past, while he was quite familiar with security and immigration processes, being a frequent traveller, he would visit one of the lounges at the airport to wait for his flight.
He said due to the fact the lift to the lounge has been out of service, he decided to go to the KFC outlet in the airport, alongside his wife and his three brothers.
He said: “To be disabled in Nigeria is to be undesirable, unwelcome and unaccepted. As I’ve said before, it’s a lonely, scary and isolated place.
“Never has this been more true than it has ever been today when I faced the worst sort of public humiliation that I have ever experienced. To think that this happened at an international brand @kfc @kfcnigeria at an international airport – Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos – is unthinkable.
“I’m a frequent flyer and I’m extremely familiar with all due processes at Murtala Muhammed Airport. Years ago, after all security and immigration formalities had been completed, I would normally go to the Oasis lounge to wait for my flight.”
Daniel said that as they were about to sit, a lady whom he believes is the manager said that wheelchairs were not allowed. He said that upon hearing what she said, one of his brothers, Taiwo, asked what the lady meant, but “she refused to listen to reason and stood her ground that wheelchairs and wheelchair users of all shapes and sizes were not permitted in the premises and we should leave immediately.
“My siblings and wife became instantly irate and proceeded to debate her position with her, ultimately culminating in raised voices and strong verbal protests. If there’s one thing I hate more than anything in this life is to create a scene. I detest it. I do not like to draw attention to myself and as such I began pleading with my people that we should just leave.
“My wife took some video footage and my brothers took some pictures. There were at least five other witnesses at the scene, who tried to intervene as things unfolded. Eventually, our party departed to another lounge upset and quite frankly pissed off.”
Daniel said he wouldn’t let such an incident slide, as another of his brothers alongside his wife, met the lady at another time where she insisted “that the business does not allow wheelchairs into their premises.” He said they took an audio recording of her statement.