By Abiola Olawale
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has shut down the activities of a branch of a popular eatery, KFC, at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos State.
The decision of the FAAN followed the discriminatory action of the food outlet against Mr. Debola Daniel, son of a former Governor of Ogun state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.
Daniel, who took to his official X handle shared his distressing experience, detailing the humiliation he endured at the hands of KFC staff.
Daniel, a wheelchair user, described his ordeal as “the worst sort of public humiliation” he ever had.
The Ogun State-born noted that it all started during his planned trip to London from Lagos via a Virgin Atlantic airline.
He wrote: “Being disabled often rolls over my spirit, leaving behind a trail of shattered dignity and forgotten humanity. Nowhere more so than in Nigeria.
“I have never been the type of person to make a fuss or complain about my disability. My approach has always been ‘laissez faire’. Ultimately, it is what it is. It is a part of my identity and like everyone else, I have my days of self-doubt and confusion as to how/if I fit in society.
“To be disabled in Nigeria is to be undesirable, unwelcome, and unaccepted. As I’ve said before, it’s a lonely, scary and isolated place.
“Never has this been more true than it has ever been today when I faced the worst sort of public humiliation that I have ever experienced. To think that this happened at an international brand @kfc @kfcnigeria at an international airport – Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos – is unthinkable.
“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. Years ago, after all security and immigration formalities had been completed, I would normally go to the OASIS lounge to wait for my flight.
“For the past 3 years, the lift to the lounge has been out of service so I’ve often found solace in other establishments, sometimes lounges, sometimes restaurants such as @kfc @kfcnigeria.
“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 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 @kfcnigeria Murtala Muhammed branch, wheelchairs and wheelchair users of all shapes and sizes were not permitted in the premises and we should leave immediately.
“My siblings and wife became instantly irate and proceeded to debate her position with her, ultimately culminating in raised voices and strong verbal protests. If there’s one thing I hate more than anything in this life is to create a scene. I detest it. I do not like to draw attention to myself and as such I began pleading with my people that we should just leave.
“My wife took some video footage, and my brothers took some pictures. There were at least 5 other witnesses at the scene, who tried to intervene as things unfolded. Eventually, our party departed to another lounge upset and quite frankly pissed off.
“Normally I would let these things slide but not today. When calmer heads prevailed, my wife and brother – Mayowa – went back and under the guise of buying some food, and while audio recording, she questioned the lady again and the lady reiterated her position that the business does not allow wheelchairs into their premises.
“She stated that although she recently just transferred to that branch, it is something that has been drummed into them. NO WHEELCHAIRS ALLOWED.
“It harkens back to dark periods in recent history…
“No wheelchairs allowed…
“No colors allowed….
“No blacks allowed…
“Today I felt less than human, like a guard dog not allowed into the house. Lonely and isolated.
“I will continue to escalate this exponentially until I get a reasonable resolution and there’s no stopping me. You cannot treat people this way. Approximately 27 million Nigerians are living with some form of disability. That’s over 13% of the country. 1 in 6 people on the planet are disabled. You MUST NOT treat people this way.
“So my question to @kfc @kfcnigeria is simple. Does this represent your approach to disabled customers or will you be looking into this? Am I not human enough for KFC?”
Reacting in a statement signed by FAAN’s Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs Obiageli Orah, the agency said KFC violated the Lagos State law on People with Special Needs, Part C, section 55 of General Provisions on Discrimination, which states: “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 based on the disability of that person.”
In the statement, Orah announced that the management of the FAAN shut the facility with effect from March 28, 2024 following a social media report by a Passenger with Reduced Mobility, who alleged discriminatory treatment.
She said it was based on the findings of the team that FAAN shut down the KFC facility at the MMA, where the incident occurred.
The statement reads: “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.”
