FAAN Closes KFC Restaurant at the Lagos Airport for Refusing to Allow Wheelchair Users to Enter

Accusations of discriminatory treatment against a KFC location at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

In response to a Passenger with Reduced Mobility (PRM) social media report, FAAN has temporarily closed the KFC location.

According to a statement made by FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs. Obiageli Orah, the closure of the KFC location was decided upon in compliance with the Lagos State Law on People with Special Needs.

The statement stressed how crucial it is to guarantee accessibility and that people with disabilities are not discriminated against.

The statement claims that KFC’s management has been instructed by FAAN to unconditionally apologize in writing to the impacted PRM.

Furthermore, before resuming operations, FAAN required KFC to prominently display a policy statement regarding non-discrimination at the entrance of their MMIA facility.

“The management of FAAN has closed the KFC facility at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos with effect from March 28, 2024, by 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 based on that person’s disability,'” the statement reads.

This is a response to a passenger with reduced mobility’s (PRM) social media report claiming he was subjected to discriminatory treatment at Lagos’s Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

“Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, MD/CE of FAAN, acted quickly and sent a management team to look into the allegation. The team included Mrs. Obiageli Orah, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection; Mr. Sunday Ayodele, Regional Manager South-West; Mrs. Ijeoma Nwosu-Igbo, Ag. General Manager Public Affairs; and Mr. Kerri, International Terminal Manager.

FAAN has closed the KFC location at the MMA, the scene of the incident, based on the team’s findings.

“Before it resumes operations, the Authority has directed the KFC Management to submit a written, unconditional apology to the impacted PRM and to draft and prominently post a policy statement that opposes discrimination at the facility’s entrance at MMIA.”