Stoppage Of Physical Luggage Checks At Lagos Airport Will End Extortion- Travelers
Airport users have shared their ordeals before the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) ended physical luggage checks at he Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
Some of the users narrated how Nigerian Immigration and Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) officials harassed and extorted them while checking their luggage.
The reaction comes after FAAN announced a major upgrade in passenger facilitation for international flights by phasing out physical luggage screening at Lagos Airport.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo tweeted, “FAAN ends physical luggage checks at Lagos Airport.”
FAAN has installed four high-capacity screening machines at the MMIA capable of detecting illicit drugs, concealed currency, and other prohibited items.
Reacting, Josey Mahachi tweeted on his X account, @MahachieJosey that the old practice of searching luggage was embarrassing.
“This is extremely good news. The discomfort I had all the time I travel to Nigeria, having someone digging into my luggage with same gloves used for hundreds of other luggage, the unhygienic tendency and all,” said Mahachi.
Another X user, @DjayAbsolute said the development will eliminate extortion by officials.
He said, “This is a welcome development the harassment had become unbearable. Whatever good intentions there may have been were completely overshadowed, turning encounters with customs and the NDLEA into nothing more than extortion sessions.”
An X user, Chief Inno with X handle, @chief_inno said, “I am not a fan of Mr. Keyamo. However, I support anything that will be done to eradicate that long table at the arrival hall. It is nothing short of an extortion table. All border agencies positioned there should go do real work.”
Yinka Akintunde with X handle, @yinkakintunde said “Hopefully the begging and subtle harassment for money from custom, NDLEA, immigration Airlines staffers, and all the other non-designated individuals roaming the pathways of exit will stop. It’s exhausting.”
Engr. Amandianeze with X handle, @Amandianezes in his reaction narrated how he was extorted during a luggage check.
He said, “It’s not about physical luggage checks, they are just there to collect money from travelers. I visited Nigeria in January and was disappointed that they don’t even have network access for e-passport checks. They took pictures of my passport and stamped it without verification.”
Stoppage Of Physical Luggage Checks At Lagos Airport Will End Extortion- Travelers is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
