Senator Osita Izunaso (Imo West) has called on the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, to caution some airport officials against begging air travellers for money.
The lawmaker described the conduct as a national embarrassment, saying it undermines Nigeria’s image before visiting foreigners.
Izunaso made the remarks at an event themed “Responsible Communication: The Voice of the World,” where Nigeria is preparing to host the 2026 World Public Relations Forum, attracting participants from 126 countries.
He said, “Honourable minister, a lot has been said about what you are doing at the airport. When you arrive at the airport now, you just carry your bag and you move in. Good work! That is fantastic.
“But you also have to look at the personnel including the customs, immigration and all the people that work at the airports. You will always hear scream, ‘Your boys are here, Sir!’ or ‘We are greeting you, Sir!’ You know, this does not depict a very good image of our country.
“So, please tell them there will be no “Your boys or girls are here!” We know they are doing their work. But there is a way they will be looking at you that will make you know they are actually looking for something more than that their work.”
According to the senator, such unprofessional behaviour, including excessive greetings and subtle demands for “tips,” gives foreigners a wrong impression about Nigeria.
“You may even hear them say “Oga, you are welcome” three times in a row to be sure you are hearing them. So, these are some of the areas I would like you to look at because people are coming in from outside the country.
However, the President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Dr Ike Neliaku, quickly countered the senator’s remarks, saying the aviation sector has undergone significant reforms in recent years.
“I want to confirm that I returned from South Africa and came back through the international airport. I want to confirm that there is a lot of improvement
Nobody said ‘Your boys are here’ to me. So, I think that Nigeria is changing,” Neliaku stated, assuring foreign delegates that the country’s image is improving.
Backing Neliaku’s position, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, commended Keyamo’s leadership.
