Tackling airport extortion is beyond us - Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has stated that the ministry does not have control over the issue of government officials extorting passengers at the airports.

In a post shared on X, Keyamo suggested that the aviation ministry is collaborating with other ministers to address the problem and find a solution.

Keyamo issued a statement following numerous complaints from travellers at the airport.

“I have received several complaints about the menace of begging and extortion at our international airports by a few unscrupulous persons who give all of us a bad image.

“My phones are beeping every minute with messages about this from well-meaning Nigerians. Just to set the records straight, most of the agencies involved in this menace are not under the control of the aviation ministry, though they are stationed at our airports.

“However, I have been working closely with other ministers, arms of government and agencies who are responsible for these agencies and a solution is in sight soon.

“We are all working under the coordination of the National Security Adviser who called a meeting a few days ago on this issue and we shall soon unveil practical steps being taken to stem this ugly tide. We thank Nigerians for their eternal vigilance on this issue,” Keyamo said.

I have received several complaints about the menace of begging and extortion at our International airports by a few unscrupulous persons who give all of us a bad image. My phones are beeping every minute with messages about this from well-meaning Nigerians.

Just to set the…

— Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, FCIArb (UK) (@fkeyamo) June 23, 2024