When you step into Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, you don’t just enter a terminal; you step into a grim reality where begging and touting are woven into the fabric of the experience. The Federal Airports Authority (FAAN) claims to fight the menace, but the shackles of indifference are heavy, especially from those sworn to protect. The truth aches like a wound, still raw and festering. This isn’t just an embarrassment,it’s a national shame, one that we wear like a scar.

Mrs. Charles, a Nigerian woman who dared to bring a glimpse of home to her British friend during a time of mourning, recounts the painful reality. “As we navigated the chaos of the terminal, hands stretched out in desperation, I felt the weight of their stares. My friend’s laughter cut deeper than any insult. ‘Why do your people beg like this?’ she mocked. I stood there, grappling with the truth of her words,unprofessional conduct parading in uniforms, a mockery of our dignity.”

The echoes of her disappointment resonate with every Nigerian who has watched the image of their homeland tarnished by a few who wear the badge of authority yet lack the spirit of service. “It’s disgraceful,” she laments, voicing the frustration of a nation too often defined by the actions of the few. 

For years, the silent screams of both travelers and industry insiders have risen against the outdated customs checkpoints within the airport, a breeding ground for extortion and humiliation. Stakeholders have cried out, but their voices drowned in the cacophony of corruption that thrives in the shadows. The Senate, a supposed bastion of change, echoes the sentiments but offers little more than empty promises.

Senator Osita Izunaso’s words hang in the air, a plea to the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, to rein in the errant officials. His calls are met with a bureaucratic labyrinth, where the blame is passed like a hot potato, and no one takes responsibility. “This behavior is a national embarrassment!” he declares, but does it matter when the very institutions meant to uphold integrity are dancing to a different tune?

Keyamo tries to distance himself from the chaos, claiming others are to blame. “These agencies don’t fall under my control,” he cries out, but accountability is lost in the shuffle. The promise of new technology,multi-million-dollar machines to replace human checks,sounds good on paper, but will it change the culture of begging and extortion? Or is it just another mirage in the desert of our hopes?

The unveiling of new screening machines offers a flicker of hope, yet the undercurrents of resistance and legal bottlenecks threaten to stifle progress. Insiders whisper of indecision, of turf wars between agencies, while the public watches in frustration. “They’re not trained!” they claim, as if ignorance justifies the systemic rot.

Retired Air Force officer, Group Captain John Ojikutu, speaks a painful truth: “Without unity, nothing will change.” His voice, a clarion call for a singular command, echoes the sentiment of a nation yearning for reform. Yet, will anyone listen? Will the managers of these institutions,armed with the duty to serve,ever take responsibility for the degradation that lingers in the air?

Retired pilot Muhammed Badamasi’s experiences only deepen the wound. “Begging has become part of the fabric of our society,” he laments, recounting how even those in uniform succumb to the degradation, seeking handouts instead of serving with honor. “Until accountability reigns, we will continue to be shadows of our potential,” he asserts, a grim reminder of the battle for dignity.

As the world watches and the frustrations mount, the call for accountability grows louder. The shadows that cloud Nigeria's airports demand not just reform, but a reckoning. This isn’t merely about begging,it’s about reclaiming our identity, shattering the silence, and igniting a defiance that will restore pride and integrity to our beloved nation. The time for change is now, and the truth can no longer be silenced.