The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has ordered the immediate removal of a transport company from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, following allegations that its personnel illegally clamped motorists’ vehicles and demanded N25,000 penalties.
The decision came after a complaint over the enforcement of the airport’s no-parking and no-pick-up regulations, with allegations that some motorists were compelled to make payments through personal bank accounts and point-of-sale (POS) operators rather than through officially designated channels.
The complaint, made public by a lawyer identified simply as Ogundele, raised questions about the manner in which the airport’s traffic regulations were being enforced and the destination of money collected from motorists.
According to the complaint, motorists who stopped briefly within parts of the airport premises risked having their vehicles clamped by enforcement personnel. Those whose vehicles were clamped were allegedly asked to pay N25,000 to secure their release.
Ogundele alleged that affected motorists were directed to a “red-painted container” where the penalty was demanded. He further claimed that, rather than being directed to an official payment platform, some motorists were referred to POS operators or instructed to transfer money into accounts bearing names including Sani Nasiru, Bala Matazu and Yahaya Matage.
The alleged payment arrangement became particularly contentious because motorists were often under time pressure, either trying to catch flights or pick up arriving passengers.
“Why am I paying a random PoS guy? Isn’t there a designated account for this purpose?” Ogundele recalled asking.
He also alleged that motorists who attempted to pay into an officially designated account could be left waiting for hours or even days for payment confirmation, while payments made through the accounts allegedly supplied by enforcement personnel were processed almost immediately.
The allegations prompted an escalation of the matter to the management of FAAN.
The agency’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, said the complaint was brought to the attention of the Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, who ordered the immediate ejection of the company from the Abuja airport.
Achimugu said, “Based on the escalation of this complaint to the Managing Director of FAAN, Ms Olubunmi Kuku, she has ordered the immediate ejection from the Abuja airport of the company responsible for this illegal action.”
He added that Kuku had repeatedly made FAAN’s position clear on unlawful activities within the nation’s airports, particularly where such conduct inconvenienced or exploited airport users.
According to Achimugu, the agency would take action whenever there was evidence of illegality, “especially actions that inconvenience airport users.”
FAAN’s intervention also appeared to draw a distinction between the agency and the company accused of carrying out the alleged enforcement.
When contacted on the matter, Kuku confirmed that the company no longer had a valid agreement with FAAN and had previously been warned against engaging in such practices.
“Yes, it is because they do not have a current agreement and they have been warned against such practices in the past,” the FAAN managing director said.
The development underscores growing concerns over how parking, pick-up and drop-off restrictions are implemented at busy Nigerian airports, where motorists frequently face strict traffic controls because of congestion and security considerations.
While airports have legitimate reasons for regulating where vehicles can stop or park, the allegations surrounding the Abuja airport incident centre on whether enforcement personnel were operating within their authority and whether penalties were being collected through approved channels.
FAAN’s decision to eject the company signals that the agency does not recognise the alleged collection arrangements as legitimate and intends to act against operators whose activities fall outside approved agreements.
The authority’s response also places greater emphasis on accountability in the enforcement of airport regulations, particularly where motorists are required to make financial payments.
For passengers and other airport users, the immediate issue is likely to be whether future enforcement will be carried out through clearly identified personnel and transparent, officially approved payment channels.
The agency’s action means the company accused in the complaint will no longer be permitted to continue the disputed enforcement activities at the Abuja airport under its previous arrangement.