The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has unveiled a sweeping set of reforms aimed at eliminating touting, begging, and corrupt practices at Nigerian airports, following recent public outrage over unprofessional conduct by airport personnel.
The new measures, captured in a document titled “Position Document on Measures to Address Corrupt Practices and Enhance Passenger Experience at MMIA and GAT,” were endorsed by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo. The initiative, dubbed Operation Air Clean, is designed to improve transparency, streamline airport operations, and enhance passenger experience, particularly at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) and the General Aviation Terminal (GAT).
Developed after an emergency high-level meeting led by FAAN’s Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku, alongside heads of other aviation and security agencies, the framework introduces major structural and operational changes across airport facilities.
Among the new policies is the dissolution of joint inspection tables by security agencies, which will be replaced with intelligence-driven passenger screening, individual profiling, and camera-based monitoring systems. In a bid to improve passenger flow, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Immigration Service will now share counters, while Customs officers will relocate to Aviation Security (AVSEC) screening points for money declaration procedures.
FAAN also plans to introduce greater transparency in passenger search procedures. Secondary screening for arriving passengers will now be conducted in dedicated profiling rooms at Terminals 1 and 2, with real-time display screens showing the names, agencies, and contact details of officers on duty. According to FAAN, this will ensure “transparency and accountability” in all screening activities.
The document further outlines redefined agency roles. The NDLEA will partner with AVSEC officers at screening points and conduct roving checks in the arrival halls, while DSS personnel will maintain surveillance around departure and screening areas.
To strengthen enforcement, FAAN announced the immediate activation of a mobile court to swiftly prosecute cases of touting and related offenses. A designated meet-and-greet area will also be established to provide a secure and organised space for visitors waiting to receive arriving passengers, reducing congestion and unauthorised movement within terminals.
The document stated, “Immediate prosecution of any Bureau De Change or car-hire staff found loitering or engaging in unauthorised activities. Defaulting businesses will face shutdowns and withdrawal of operational rights.”
At the General Aviation Terminal, FAAN will implement a timed parking system for short- and long-term users, restrict the number of car-hire vehicles allowed in parking areas, and intensify efforts to eradicate touting and harassment of passengers.
Endorsing the initiative, Minister Festus Keyamo described the reforms as a critical step toward modernising airport operations and restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
Sources within the ministry also confirmed that FAAN management will formally engage the Office of the National Security Adviser to facilitate immediate enforcement of the new operational standards.
Through Operation Air Clean, FAAN aims to establish a more transparent, efficient, and passenger-friendly environment across Nigerian airports, marking a decisive move to professionalise airport management and align it with global best practices.
