Begging and touting remain persistent challenges at Nigerian airports. Despite the Federal Airports Authority’s efforts to curb this menace, progress has faced strong resistance, particularly from security agencies. This menace is embarrassing the country, OLASUNKANMI AKINLOTAN, reports
“When my British friend visited Nigeria with me in January 2025 for my mother’s burial, she left with an unfortunate impression of my country. We flew on the same aircraft, and upon arrival, while making our way through the terminal and undergoing the usual airport checks, several people approached us, asking for money. I hadn’t changed my foreign currency for naira, so I kept repeating, ‘I don’t have naira,’ hoping they would understand.
“To my dismay, my British friend found the situation amusing. She laughed and teased me, questioning why my people would behave in such a manner, begging openly despite being in an official uniform under the government’s employment. Her comments stung, but even more painful was knowing that her mockery stemmed from something real and visible.
“It is deeply troubling that airport staff, who represent the country’s image to visitors, could engage in such unprofessional conduct. This kind of behaviour is disgraceful and tarnishes the nation’s reputation. Incidents like this reflect how little pride some of our institutions take in upholding Nigeria’s dignity. Truly, such things rarely happen abroad, and it is high time our leaders and citizens alike took responsibility for restoring respect and integrity to our nation’s name.”
This was the lamentation of a female Nigerian based in the United States, Mrs Charles, who explained her disappointment at what begging by airport staff, particularly security officials, has made of Nigeria’s image in the eyes of her foreign friend.
The female traveller said Nigeria is a great country that is being maligned by a few, according to her, ‘unpatriotic Nigerians’.
For years, both industry stakeholders and travellers have voiced frustration over the Customs inspection points within the Murtala Muhammed International Airport terminal.
Stakeholders have criticised these manual checks by security agencies, tagging them as outdated and intrusive, while passengers often describe them as a breeding ground for extortion.
On Monday, drama played out at the Senate in Abuja when the Senator representing Imo West, Osita Izunaso, called on the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, to caution officials of the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, and other uniformed personnel at airports against begging air travellers for money.
The lawmaker described the behaviour of some airport officials as a national embarrassment, saying it undermines Nigeria’s image before foreign visitors and investors.
The obviously unpleasant act has been the top priority of the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Olubunmi Kuku, as she has repeatedly expressed her disdain for begging and any other form of touting within the airport at various fora.
Handlers of the aviation industry, including the Minister, are yet to respond to the call by the Senator.
After being inundated by complaints from visitors and Nigerians about the act of begging, which has taken over Nigerian aerodromes, in June 2024, The PUNCH recalled that Keyamo promised that the government agencies involved in extortion and begging at Nigeria’s airports do not fall directly under his ministry’s control, nor are they all under one ministry.
The Minister, in a post on his verified X handle on a Sunday, explained that efforts are in top gear to ensure that the ministers of the concerned ministries forge a collaboration with the Ministry of Aviation to end the menace.
