Senator Gbenga Daniel’s Son, Debola
The drama which ensued at the Muritala Muhammed Airport between flying guests who was outrightly denied public access to a restaurant recently had raised enough dust for National attentions and corrections.
For discriminating against the son of Gbenga Daniel, the serving senator of Ogun East Senatorial district, Debola Daniel, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), has shut down, KFC at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
Globalreport gathered that the airport authority also ordered KFC to tender unreserved apology to Debola Daniel.
Recall that KFC recently recent discriminated against Debola, one of the sons of the current Ogun East Senator.
KFC had refused to grant Debola Daniel, entrance to their lounge due to his disability.
“I arrived at the airport as normal for my Virgin Atlantic flight to london. I’m a frequent flyer and I’m extremely familiar with all due processes at Murtala Muhammed Airport.
“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”.
“Our group paused in confusion, before my brother, Taiwo, asked what she meant. She refused to listen to reason and stood her ground that at KFC Murtala Muhammed branch, wheelchairs and wheelchair users of all shapes and sizes were not permitted in the premises and we should leave immediately,” Daniel explained.
However, FAAN in a statement made available to newsmen by the director, public affairs and consumer protection, Obiageli Orah, confirmed that the management of FAAN shut KFC facility on Thursday.
According to Orah, Lagos State law on People with Special Needs, forbids anyone from disvriminating against persons with disability.
“In line with the 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 FAAN has closed the KFC facility at the MMIA 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,” she stated.
Orah, however, stated that the FAAN management had ordered KFC to tender unreserved apology to Deola Daniel, even as the authority assured other physically challenged Nigerians of their rights not to be trampled upon at the airport.
“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.”
If it were to be ordinary Nigerian persons, would FAAN had taken this steps. Am very sure it was because of the personality involved.
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