Begging at Airports Tarnishes Nigeria’s Image” — Izunaso Warns Keyamo

A mild drama played out in Abuja on Monday when Senator Osita Izunaso (Imo West) called on the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, to caution officials of the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, and other uniformed personnel at airports against begging air travellers for money.

The lawmaker described the conduct of some airport officials 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.

He added, “For us in Nigeria, we know the meaning of ‘Your boys are here.’ Please tell them there will be no ‘Your boys or girls are here!’. There is a way they will be looking at you that makes you know they are asking for something more than their work.

“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.

“Apart from that, I must pay a very special tribute to the Minister of Information and National Orientation. I love the concerns he has shown to the NIPR. Nobody has done that before.”

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.

He said, “I want to appreciate the Minister of Aviation, the man under whose tenure the entry and exit point of our airports have really transformed.

“I think that what we are seeing in the Ministry of Aviation is truly unprecedented. Thank you for making us proud. Mr Festus Keyamo.”

Also responding, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, noted that technological upgrades at airports have enhanced efficiency and reduced human contact.

“I’m happy that the Minister of Aviation is here. We’ve taken judicial notice of the remarkable transformation that has happened in our airports. When you get to any of our points of entries now, all you need to do is to scan your passports, open your eyes to the sunglasses and it captures all your details and the door opens for you if you are a legitimate traveller.

“If you have some problem, they will ask you to come behind and sort yourself out. This is what happens everywhere in the world. So we are already setting standards. We are taking on international best practice to ensure that Nigeria compares with anywhere in the world,” he stated.

In his closing remarks, Keyamo pledged to ensure that all visitors arriving for the World Public Relations Forum in 2026 are received warmly.

He said, “I want to promise you that we are going to be ready at our entry point, which is actually the image of the country. So we are going to be your first point of contact.

“We are going to be ready at the airport to ensure that all of those who are invited to Nigeria receive a very good welcoming atmosphere when they arrive at the country.

“Also, we are in the process of setting up a VVIP department at the airport, all our international airports, for our very, very important guests coming into the country. And I’m sure the public relations professionals who are coming into the country at the end will enjoy this fully.”

The forum, slated to hold at the Eagle Square in November 2026, is expected to be Nigeria’s largest global public relations event, drawing top communication professionals, diplomats, and government officials from across the world.