Son of the Former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Gbenga Daniel, Debola Daniel recently reported being ridiculed because of his disability by staffers of KFC, at their Murtala Mohammed International Airport, ( MMIA) Branch.
This prompted the Management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to close down the KFC facility at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos with immediate effect.
According to a release signed by Mrs. Obiageli Orah, Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, FAAN, this became imperative due to the discriminatory treatment received by a Passenger with Reduced Mobility (PRM) at the airport on Wednesday from the outlet.
The statement said that the shutting down of the company was in line with Lagos State Law on People with Special Needs, Part C, Section 55 of General Provisions on Discrimination.
According to that law: “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 noted that Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, the Managign Director, FAAN, immediately intervened by deploying a management team comprising the Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs. Obiageli 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 of discrimination against the physically challenged traveller.
Orah stressed that the shutting down of the facility at the MMIA where the incident occurred, was based on the findings of the team deployed by FAAN to carry out investigation into the matter.
FAAN also directed the KFC management to tender an unreserved apology, in writing to the affected PRM and a policy statement of non-discrimination written and pasted conspicuously at the door post of their facility at the airport before it would be allowed to resume operation.
FAAN seized the opportunity to express it’s unreserved apology to the affected passenger with reduced mobility and assured all airport users that it shall continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the rights of every passenger are not infringed upon.