The Federal Government has reacted after the worldwide fast food restaurant brand Kentucky Fried Chicken, KFC, was accused of discriminating against Debola Daniel, a person with limited mobility, at the Murtala Muhammed Worldwide Airport in Lagos State.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) condemned the food outlet’s move as illegal in a post on Thursday through its verified X account, signed by its Acting Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Adamu Abdullahi.
The Commission stated that it strongly opposes all forms of consumer discrimination, including those based on handicap.
It further defined the behavior as not only illegal but also cruel and opposed to the principles that society holds dear.
The FCCPC further stated that it will continue to work closely with relevant authorities to provide adequate remedies for the harmed consumer in this situation.
According to the Commission, it will guarantee that the KFC store in issue accepts full responsibility for its conduct.
Recall that The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has shut down a KFC store at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos State.
FAAN announced this on Thursday in a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs Obiageli Orah.
The announcement, headed ‘FAAN shuts down KFC store at MMIA,’ stated that the restaurant breached the Lagos State Law on People with Special Needs, Part C, Section 55 of General Provisions on Discrimination.
According to the statement, the decision came in response to a social media post by a Passenger with Reduced Mobility who claimed to have suffered discriminatory treatment at the airport.
It read:
“In line with Lagos State law on People with Special Needs, Part C, section 55 of General Provisions on Discrimination which states that “A person shall not deprive another person of access to any place, vehicle or facility that members of the public are entitled to enter or use on the basis of the disability of that person”, the management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has closed the KFC facility at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos with effect from March 28, 2024.
“This is as a result of a social media report by a Passenger with Reduced Mobility (PRM), alleging discriminatory treatment he received at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
“The MD/CE of FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi, Kuku intervened swiftly by deploying a management team comprising the Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs Obiageli Orah; the Regional Manager South West, Mr. Sunday Ayodele; Ag. General Manager Public Affairs, Mrs Ijeoma Nwosu-Igbo and the International Terminal Manager, Mr. Kerri, to investigate the allegation.”
FAAN said, “It is based on the findings of the team that FAAN has shut down the KFC facility at the MMA, where the incident occurred.
“The authority has instructed that the KFC Management should tender an unreserved apology, in writing, to the affected PRM and a policy statement of non-discrimination be written and pasted conspicuously at the door post of their facility at MMIA before it resumes operation.
“FAAN uses this medium to express our unreserved apology to the affected Passenger with Reduced Mobility and assures all airport users that we shall continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the rights of every passenger are not infringed upon.”
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