FAAN Shuts KFC Outlet In Lagos Airport For Discriminating Against Customer On Wheelchair

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Thursday ordered the immediate closure of the KFC outlet at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.

This directive, issued in a statement by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs Obiageli Orah, was due to the discriminatory allegation made by one of their customers.

In a series of tweets made by an X user, Debola Daniel on Wednesday, it was alleged that a security guard at the KFC outlet on the airport premises refused to grant him access to their facility because of his disability.

He wrote: “Today I chose KFC – what a colossal mistake. I entered the restaurant with 4 other travel companions consisting of my brothers and wife. The security personnel at KFC, Samuel, greeted me by name as I’ve been there multiple times.

“Just as we were about to sit, the lady at the till – who was apparently the manager – called out loudly, ‘NO WHEELCHAIRS ALLOWED.’”

Reacting to this, FAAN described the action of KFC as a violation of the Lagos State Law on People with Special Needs and thus, the agency ordered that the restaurant should stop operation immediately. 

The statement reads: “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”, the management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has closed the KFC facility at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos with effect from March 28, 2024.

“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 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.

“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.”