FAAN sacks firm accused of illegal vehicle clamping

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The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has ordered the immediate ejection of a transport company accused of illegally clamping vehicles and collecting N25,000 penalties from motorists at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

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The action followed a complaint alleging questionable enforcement of the airport’s no-parking and no-pick-up rules, including claims that motorists were pressured into making payments through personal accounts and point-of-sale operators.

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The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, said the matter was escalated to FAAN Managing Director, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, who directed that the company be removed from the airport.

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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.”

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He added that Kuku had consistently made clear that FAAN would act whenever there was evidence of illegality, “especially actions that inconvenience airport users.”

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The complaint, made public by a lawyer, simply identified as Ogundele, alleged that motorists who stopped briefly around the airport could have their vehicles clamped by enforcement personnel, who then demanded a N25,000 fine.

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According to him, motorists were directed to a ‘red-painted container’ where the alleged penalty was demanded. But instead of being guided to make payment through an official channel, he said some motorists were directed to POS operators and accounts bearing names such as Sani Nasiru, Bala Matazu and Yahaya Matage.

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Ogundele said the arrangement left motorists with little practical choice, particularly those rushing to catch flights or pick up passengers. “Why am I paying a random PoS guy? Isn’t there a designated account for this purpose?” he recalled asking.

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He further alleged that motorists who paid into the officially designated account could be made to wait for hours or even days for confirmation, while payments to the accounts supplied by the enforcement personnel were processed immediately.

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FAAN, however, has moved to distance itself from the company and the alleged practices.

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When contacted over the matter, the Managing Director of FAAN said, “Yes, it is because they do not have a current agreement and they have been warned against such practices in the past.”

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