The Federal Airports Authority Of Nigeria (FAAN) shut down the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos owing to the discrimination against Abebola Daniel, son of Gbenga Daniel.

Adebola Daniel, son of former Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, who has a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from University College London, is the founder of the African Youth Initiative and is an inspirational speaker with TEDx Talk.

Also, he has a foundation that promotes fairness for physically challenged individuals in Nigeria.

However, he has been confined to a wheelchair since he was 5 due to a diagnosis of paraplegia and was reported by Okay.NG to have been discriminated against, in a popular fast-food restaurant because of his inability to walk.

According to the report, Adebola went to the restaurant with 4 companions – His brothers and wife, unfortunately ,the manager of the KFC branch deprived him of entrance while letting them know that wheelchairs are not permitted in the restaurant.

According to Adebola’s tweet released on  27th of March 2024, it read;

“Being disabled often rolls over my spirit, leaving behind a trail of shattered dignity and forgotten humanity. Nowhere more so than in Nigeria.

“I have never been the type of person to make a fuss or complain about my disability. My approach has always been “laissez faire”. Ultimately, it is what it is. It is a part of my identity and like everyone else, I have my days of self doubt and confusion as to how/if I fit in society.

To be a disabled in Nigeria is to be undesirable, unwelcome and unaccepted. As I’ve said before, it’s a lonely, scary and isolated place.

Never has this been more true than it has ever been today where I faced the worst sort of public humiliation that I have ever experienced. To think that this happened at an international brand @kfc @kfcnigeria at an international airport – Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos – is unthinkable.

 

I arrived at the airport as normal for my Virgin Atlantic flight to london. I’m a frequent flyer and I’m extremely familiar with all due processes at Murtala Muhammed Airport. Years ago, after all security and immigration formalities had been completed, I would normally go to the OASIS lounge to wait for my flight.

For the past 3 years, the lift to the lounge has been out of service so I’ve often found solace in other establishments, sometimes lounges, sometimes restaurants such as @kfc @kfcnigeria

Today I chose KFC – what a colossal mistake. I entered the restaurant with 4 other travel companions consisting of my brothers and wife. The security personnel at KFC, Samuel, greeted me by name as I’ve been there multiple times. Just as we were about to sit, the lady at the till – who was apparently the manager – called out loudly, “NO WHEELCHAIRS ALLOWED”.

Our group paused in confusion, before my brother, Taiwo, asked what she meant. She refused to listen to reason and stood her ground that at @kfc @kfcnigeria Murtala Muhammed branch, wheelchairs and wheelchair users of all shapes and sizes were not permitted in the premises and we should leave immediately.

My siblings and wife became instantly irate and proceeded to debate her position with her, ultimately culminating in raised voices and strong verbal protests. If there’s one thing I hate more than anything in this life is to create a scene. I detest it. I do not like to draw attention to myself and as such I began pleading with my people that we should just leave.

My wife took some video footage and my brothers took some pictures. There were at least 5 other witnesses at the scene, who tried to intervene as things unfolded. Eventually our party departed to another lounge upset and quite frankly pissed off.

“Normally I would let these things slide but not today. When calmer heads prevailed, my wife and brother – Mayowa – went back and under the guise of buying some food and while audio recording, she questioned the lady again and the lady reiterated her position that the business does not allow wheelchairs into their premises.

“She stated that although she recently just transferred to that branch, it is something that has been drummed into them. NO WHEELCHAIRS ALLOWED.

“It harkens back to dark periods in recent history…

“No wheelchairs allowed…
“No coloureds allowed….
“No blacks allowed…

“Today I felt less than human, like a guard dog not allowed into the house. Lonely and isolated.

“I will continue to escalate this exponentially until I get a reasonable resolution and there’s no stopping me. You cannot treat people this way. There are approximately 27 million Nigerians living with some form of disability. That’s over 13% of the country. 1 in 6 people on the planet are disabled. You MUST NOT treat people this way.

“So my question to @kfc @kfcnigeria is simple. Does this represent your approach to disabled customers or will you be looking into this? Am I not human enough for KFC?”

Eventually, his tweet got the attention of many Nigerians and most of all the attention of FAAN. The Director Of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at FAAN, Obiageli Orah, notified the public of the investigations conducted and how the authority reached their conclusion.

The statement 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 based on 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 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.”

FCCPC Condemns Discrimination Against Consumers.

Likewise, Federal Competition And Consumers Protection Commission exercise their displeasure at the action meted out against Daniel.

The acting Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Adamu Abdullahi expresses the commission’s disapproval of any kind of discrimination against consumers and mainly those based on disability.

He pointed out Section 17 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA), emphasising the obligation to eliminate practices detrimental to competition and consumer welfare to safeguard consumer interests.

Mr Adamu promised the commission will make sure KFC takes full responsibility for their action.

The discrimination against Adebola Daniel seems to have garnered the attention of reputable commissions, who have swung into action to serve justice.

Will KFC at Murtala Mohammed, Lagos be reopened?

And at what cost do you think?

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