A softer drama unfolded in Abuja on Monday when Senator Osita Izunaso (Imo West) urged the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to intervene in what he described as “embarrassing” conduct by airport agency personnel who allegedly solicit money or attention from travellers.
Speaking after the inaugural meeting of the Accommodation Sub‑Committee ahead of the upcoming global event Nigeria is hosting, the senator focused on airport terminals and how they reflect the country’s image before international visitors.
“Honourable minister, a lot has been said about what you are doing at the airport. When you arrive now you just carry your bag and move in. Good work! That is fantastic.”
“But you also have to look at the personnel. You will always hear ‘Your boys are here, Sir!’ or ‘We’re greeting you, Sir !’. This does not depict a very good image of our country.”
Izunaso criticised the excessive greetings and inferred demands for tips by officials with customs, immigration and other agencies at airports.
“There is a way they look at you that makes you know they are asking for something more than just doing their job,” he said.
He further highlighted how major access points such as Bussy Water Works Road, Ogoja Road and Afikpo Road were nearly free of traffic due to reduced park operations and public transport as visitors refrained from using them.
However, the President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku, offered a more positive view, citing recent improvements.
“I returned from South Africa and came back through the international airport … I want to confirm there is a lot of improvement,” he said.
In support of these remarks, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, commended Keyamo’s leadership, affirming the transformation of the country’s entry and exit points as “truly unprecedented.”
Likewise, the Comptroller‑General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, explained that technological upgrades, including passport scanning and automated gates, have reduced human contact and expedited processing times.
Closing his remarks, Keyamo pledged to ensure that when Nigeria hosts the 2026 World Public Relations Forum, arriving guests will receive world‑class welcome standards.
“We are going to be ready at our entry point … to ensure all those invited receive a very good welcoming atmosphere,” he pledged, noting a VVIP department for international guests is already in the works.
