Plans are underway by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to set up magistrate courts in airports across the country for the prosecution of touts.
During a meeting between FAAN management and heads of security agencies at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Friday, the Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, revealed this information.
The purpose of the meeting, as stated by FAAN, was to update airport stakeholders on recent developments at the airport, educate them on the strategic objectives of the current management, and discuss ways to improve passenger experience and facilitation.
“There are individuals who have no legitimate reason to be at the airport, and they continue to cause problems for us.
“We have an anti-touting task force, and we are now prepared to begin on-site prosecution of those involved in these illegal activities or found loitering around the airport premises and bothering passengers,” she elaborated.
“This behavior is not tolerated in other parts of the world, and the airport should be a secure environment,” she emphasized.
This development comes in the midst of increasing incidents of harassment by touts in Nigerian airports.
In May 2024, Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, assured travelers that touts would be removed from Nigerian airports.
In 2022, FAAN apprehended 90 touts in Nigerian airports.