Scores of passengers travelling out of the country through the premier gateway – Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos , have expressed disenchantment over the lingering spate of harassment they are subjected to by security and para- military personnel, who have perfected new acts for extortion.
Investigations by The Nation reveal that the affected passengers have fingered personnel of Nigeria Customs Service and Nigeria Immigration Service, who subject them to rigorous scrutiny , all in a bid to extract gratification from them.
It was learnt that the unprofessional conduct of these officials is creating unease among many passengers and other airport users, who are demanding reprimands from the appropriate authorities for identified officials.
Though the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), introduced streamlined checking at the airport to reduce human interface among the relevant screening agencies including : Department of State Services, International Police, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Customs, Immigration, National Agricultural Plants Quarantine Services , some errant officials are still in the act of harassing passengers.
Investigations further revealed that while passengers process their flight through airlines’ counters, they usually express apprehension when they approach processing points manned by Customs/ Immigration officials.
