Abstaining from participating in a course to have a just society is a direct endorsement of the circumstances that made the society unjust. We must learn to celebrate and support the wonderfulness of patriotic and law abiding individuals among our ranks and as well frown at the nastiness of those who work against our societal interests.
Even in the mud and scum of things, we must strive to always bring out something beautiful. We must not be crippled or defeated by the unholy situation in our society, for the more we sanitize some areas, the better our people become.
The extortion and the alms begging rates at the Nigerian international airports, especially, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, have gotten to cosmic proportion, which in all ramifications remain a national embarrassment and an outright show of shame. Begging and extortion have become the culture of most workers at our airports for their actions speak volume in sabotaging our national image before the international communities. There is no way to describe their unholy actions other than acts of aggression, gross misconduct, extortion and mediocrity.
As a Globetrotter, I have been to different countries in the world and l have not seen any airport where alms begging and extortion is celebrated and displayed on a global stage as we have it especially at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport.
In my travelling experiences, at the European airports you will meet serious minded and vigilant workers who dish out their responsibilities in a very welcoming fashion without any intention to molest, harass, extort, threaten, or beat up law abiding travellers who refuse to give in to unholy demands as we have it on our earthly divides.
Once you arrive at the Nigeria’s Murtala Mohammed International Airport from another country, you will be greeted with red eyes scaring looking faced officers, exuding frustration and despiration, which in turn, put travellers, especially those who are having their first time experiences at the airport, in a position of discomfort and anxiety. The Murtala Mohammed International Airport, from the jetways to the car parks, have been turned into an arena of cheap beggars.
Please note this: Any officer, who compromises his or her ego to beg for alms, will compromise also to either let in or let out illegal materials/individuals in exchange for money, which directly poses a huge threat to our national security. Nothing is as porous as a boarder manned by corrupt individuals, for it is the catalyst for insurgency among many other societal threats.
As a matter of urgency, I hereby call on the appropriate authority or authorities as the case may be, to investigate and stop the built up show of shame displayed at our international airports in order to redeem our image, defend our nation and as well protect the rights of the individuals who travel through the airports.
AMB. EZEWELE CYRIL ABIONANOJIE is the author of the book, ‘The Enemy Called Corruption’ ; an award winner ‘Best Columnist Of The Year’, ‘Giant In Security Support’ among other local and international awards. He is the Founder/President of Peace Ambassadors Global.