The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has launched an ambitious reform agenda, introducing a zero-tolerance policy aimed at eradicating touting, extortion, and passenger harassment across the country’s airports.
The move follows mounting public outcry and a recent criticism by Senator Osita Izunaso, who described the growing menace of touting and begging at Nigerian airports as a “national embarrassment.”
In response, FAAN, in collaboration with the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, unveiled a comprehensive operational framework tagged Operation Air Clean.
The initiative is designed to enhance transparency, curb corruption, and restore orderliness within airport environments—particularly at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) and General Aviation Terminal (GAT) in Lagos.
The document detailing the new framework, titled Position Document on Measures to Address Corrupt Practices and Enhance Passenger Experience, was jointly signed by the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, and FAAN’s Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku.
Operation Air Clean Anchors the FAAN Zero-Tolerance Policy
Under the FAAN zero-tolerance policy, the agency will dissolve multiple joint inspection tables previously operated by various security agencies.
These will be replaced by intelligence-driven passenger screening, camera surveillance, and digital profiling to reduce human interference and opportunities for bribery.
The new policy also mandates the Department of State Services (DSS) and Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) to share counters, streamlining passenger checks and reducing delays at departure points.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) will relocate to Aviation Security (AVSEC) screening areas to handle money declaration processes, ensuring faster clearance for outbound passengers.
In addition, FAAN announced that secondary screening for arriving passengers will now take place in designated profiling rooms at Terminals 1 and 2 of MMIA.
Real-time digital displays will show the names, designations, and agencies of officers on duty, a transparency measure designed to prevent harassment and unauthorized checks.
FAAN emphasized that the zero-tolerance policy will “eliminate extortion, protect passenger rights, and improve Nigeria’s global aviation image.”
Stronger Security Collaboration Across Agencies
According to FAAN’s operational guide, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) will collaborate with AVSEC to conduct roving checks at screening points and arrival halls, while DSS operatives will oversee surveillance at departure gates and baggage areas.
This inter-agency cooperation, officials say, will enhance accountability and reduce overlapping responsibilities that often lead to disorder.
FAAN also disclosed plans to activate mobile courts within airport premises to prosecute touts and offenders caught engaging in extortion or unauthorized activities. This, it noted, will ensure swift justice and deter repeat offenses.
“The immediate activation of mobile courts will expedite the prosecution of offenders, especially touts and illegal car-hire operators,” the document read.
“Defaulting businesses will face shutdowns and withdrawal of operating rights within terminals.”
FAAN Zero-Tolerance Policy to Regulate Business Operations
As part of its broader reforms, the FAAN zero-tolerance policy also targets Bureau De Change (BDC) operators and car-hire companies accused of loitering or operating outside approved zones.
FAAN warned that any business found violating airport operational standards would face prosecution and possible revocation of licenses.
To improve passenger comfort, the authority plans to introduce a designated meet-and-greet area at all major airports, where visitors and transport providers can wait for arriving passengers without congesting terminal entrances.
At the General Aviation Terminal, FAAN will implement a timed parking system for short- and long-term users, reduce the number of car-hire vehicles in lots, and introduce strict entry control to prevent unregulated commercial activities.
These reforms, FAAN says, are part of a long-term plan to professionalize airport operations and align Nigeria’s aviation management standards with international best practices.
Keyamo: “The Era of Disorder at Airports Is Over”
Endorsing the new measures, Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo reiterated that the era of indiscipline at Nigerian airports is over.
He described the FAAN zero-tolerance policy as a decisive step toward restoring public confidence in the aviation sector and positioning Nigeria as a regional travel hub.
“The Federal Government is committed to ensuring that our airports reflect the dignity of our nation.
This policy will strengthen enforcement, ensure accountability, and guarantee a better travel experience for all passengers,” Keyamo stated.
Sources within the ministry confirmed that FAAN management has also written to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to facilitate inter-agency cooperation and the immediate rollout of the reforms.
A Step Toward Safer and Transparent Airports
With Operation Air Clean and the FAAN zero-tolerance policy, Nigeria’s aviation authorities aim to eliminate misconduct and create a cleaner, safer, and more efficient airport system.
The policy signals a broader cultural shift—one that places transparency, efficiency, and passenger welfare at the center of aviation operations.
Industry analysts believe the reforms could significantly improve Nigeria’s international ranking on airport service quality, while restoring investor and traveler confidence.
However, they also warn that consistent enforcement, staff reorientation, and inter-agency discipline will be key to sustaining progress.
As Nigeria continues to expand its aviation infrastructure, the FAAN zero-tolerance policy marks a turning point in the fight against corruption, touting, and inefficiency—ushering in what authorities describe as a “new era of professionalism” across the nation’s airports.
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