The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has taken decisive action by shutting down a branch of the popular food outlet, KFC, located at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos State.
This move comes after allegations of discrimination were made against the establishment.
In an official statement released on Thursday, FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs Obiageli Orah, emphasized that KFC had violated the provisions of the Lagos State law on People with Special Needs, specifically Section 55 of General Provisions on Discrimination. The decision to close the outlet was prompted by a social media report from a Passenger with Reduced Mobility (PRM) who detailed the discriminatory treatment he faced at the airport.
The statement further explained, “In accordance with the Lagos State law on People with Special Needs, FAAN has closed the KFC facility at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, effective from March 28, 2024. The Managing Director/Chief Executive of FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, promptly intervened by deploying a management team to investigate the allegation. The team, consisting of Mrs Obiageli Orah, Sunday Ayodele (Regional Manager South West), Mrs Ijeoma Nwosu-Igbo (Acting General Manager Public Affairs), and Mr. Kerri (International Terminal Manager), was tasked with conducting a thorough inquiry.”
The incident that triggered this action involved Adebola Daniel, the son of former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel, who recounted his distressing experience at the KFC outlet via a series of tweets. Daniel, a wheelchair user, expressed his deep sense of humiliation and dehumanization, describing the incident as the worst encounter of its kind that he had ever faced.
According to Daniel, as he and his family, including his wife and three brothers, were about to sit at the KFC outlet, they were loudly informed by a lady who appeared to be the manager that “No wheelchairs are allowed.” Despite their attempts to reason with her, she adamantly maintained that wheelchairs and wheelchair users of any kind were not permitted on the premises. The situation escalated, leading to raised voices and verbal protests from Daniel’s family.
Determined not to let this incident go unnoticed, Daniel and his family captured video footage and photographs while at the scene. On another occasion, Daniel’s brother and wife confronted the same lady, who reiterated that wheelchairs were prohibited at the establishment. An audio recording of their conversation further confirmed this discriminatory stance.
In response to the allegations and prior to the FAAN’s action, KFC issued a statement via its official Twitter account, emphasizing its unwavering commitment to inclusivity and respect, stating that bias or discrimination in any form is unacceptable.
FAAN’s closure of the KFC facility at Murtala Muhammed International Airport serves as a stern message against any form of discrimination. The authority has instructed KFC’s management to issue a written apology to the affected PRM and to prominently display a policy statement on non-discrimination at the entrance of their facility before resuming operations.
FAAN, in expressing its apology to the affected Passenger with Reduced Mobility, assured all airport users that it remains dedicated to safeguarding the rights of every passenger and ensuring that such infringements are not tolerated.
This incident has shed light on the challenges faced by persons with disabilities in Nigeria and serves as a reminder that inclusivity and equal treatment are fundamental principles that should be upheld by all establishments.