No Molestation of Cargo Agent, Passenger At MMIA Lagos- FAAN
3 min read
Eagle Eye FAAN staff sorting out cargo from actual luggage at MMIA, LoS
DRAMATIZATION GONE AWRY AS THE FACT BEHIND THE RATIONALE FOR THE FOUR MINUTES OF VIDEO FOOTAGE WHICH ATTEMPTED TO DEPICT A MALE AIRPORT STAFF MOLESTING A FEMALE PASSENGER CONTINUES TO BE UNVEILED
The altercation which occurred at the baggage foyer of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos, which was captured in a video that has gone viral, has been described as nothing but a dramatization meant to give a dog a bad name in other to hang it.
A woman who called herself a passenger, but whose investigation revealed she is a cargo agent screamed to high heavens that she was being extorted by an airport staff who demanded N5,000.00k for each of her four cargoes in parcels.
According to the video footage, the airport officer was adamant about all the tantrums by the purported passenger but insisted the “passenger” baggage in question was liable to a fee of N5000.00k that must be collected.
At this juncture, the contest became a ding-dong affair. There also was a brief scene attempting to tell the viewers that a passenger of the opposite sex was being molested while the video evidence showed otherwise.
However, a statement by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, management of MMIA Ikeja, identified the erstwhile passenger as a cargo agent.
The Investigation also revealed the woman was carrying out illegal cargo clearance as an agent yet wanted to trick the officers and wangle her way out of the terminal building.
The statement signed by Obiageli Orah, (Mrs), the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, debunked any claim of molestation it rather claimed that as a result of the unruly conduct of the cargo agent, public properties and equipment acquired with taxpayers’ money were damaged.
FAAN also denounced the claim by the cargo agent which was heard in the video footage that a bribe was being demanded from her by the airport staff. The airport staff, the statement said, was at his duty post to harvest such and many other leakages at revenue points in the airport.
The statement appealed to passengers, especially cargo agents to restrict their cargo handling activities exclusively, to the designated space for cargo operations and not to disrupt the orderliness maintained in the airport.
FAAN in the statement reiterated thus, “Our cargo policies are designed to ensure adherence to international best practices, prevent damage to airport facilities, and prioritize customer service and safety”.
The statement highlighted two major reasons why the airport managers imposed a fine of N5,000.00k to any cargo agents who flouted its regulations. The reasons adduced are the following,
(1) Failure to utilize dedicated cargo terminals.
(2) “Damage to carousels resulting from improper cargo handling”.
Passengers, cargo handlers and the general public have been urged to adhere to the rules guiding airport operations to avoid similar incidents in the future as cooperation with airport personnel would enhance passengers’ and cargo agents’ airport experience.
About Post Author
