Passenger petitions FAAN, NCAA over alleged harassment, extortion at Osubi Airport

Allegations of Misconduct at Osubi Airport

A passenger, Progress Oberiko, has petitioned the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) over alleged harassment, intrusive manual baggage searches, and extortion at the Osubi Airport in Warri. The petition follows an incident that reportedly occurred on July 22, 2026, while Oberiko was preparing to board a United Nigeria Airlines flight to Abuja.

Oberiko alleged that the encounter caused her significant distress and resulted in damage to her luggage. She decided to formally report the incident to address what she describes as a wider pattern of misconduct that could affect other air passengers. She noted that her family members had previously experienced similar extortion at the same facility.

I’m sharing this for three reasons: The FAAN staff member said that others were cooperating except me, so apparently, they’re used to people not speaking up. But the fact that people are silent about it doesn’t make it right.

— Progress Oberiko, Passenger, United Nigeria Airlines

Manual Baggage Searches and Disputed Items

According to the petitioner, the incident began shortly after she checked in for her 11:45 a.m. flight. She initially noticed a discrepancy in the weight of her luggage, which she claimed weighed 17 kilogrammes on her personal scale but was recorded as 18 kilogrammes by the airport staff. Despite rechecking the weight in the presence of an attendant, she was required to pay for the additional kilogramme.

Following the check-in, Oberiko was called to "clear" her main luggage. She alleged that a FAAN staff member insisted on a manual search, claiming the machine scanner was not clear. During this process, the official reportedly removed five cans of Peak Milk, sardines, and perfumes from her bag, insisting the items could not be taken on the flight despite being properly sealed in checked-in luggage.

The airport supervisor came to the scene and I was allowed to go with my perfumes, but they still removed the canned beverage.

— Progress Oberiko, Passenger, United Nigeria Airlines

Concerns Over Systemic Extortion

Oberiko expressed concern that manual searches of checked-in luggage create opportunities for abuse and the mishandling of personal belongings. She cited previous instances involving her family members, including an occasion where her sister was allegedly forced to pay N3,000 in cash to keep her personal items after being told they were prohibited. In that instance, a request to make a bank transfer was reportedly rejected by the officers.

After reviewing passenger guidance issued by FAAN and the NCAA, Oberiko stated she found no regulations prohibiting sealed canned food items in checked-in baggage. She argued that Nigeria remains in its current state because people often fail to file formal reports against such misnomers.

Nigeria is the way it is because, most times, people don’t speak up, and even those who do don’t formally file a report or ensure that such a misnomer is checked or completely stopped.

— Progress Oberiko, Passenger, United Nigeria Airlines

Demand for Transparency and Reform

The petitioner has provided the identities of the officers involved to the aviation authorities. She is urging FAAN and the NCAA to investigate whether the actions of the staff complied with established airport screening procedures. The petition calls for a thorough review of manual search protocols to ensure they are conducted with adequate transparency and supervision.

Oberiko, who described feeling "completely disoriented and unwell" upon landing in Abuja, emphasized that the issue is larger than her personal experience. She expressed hope that her complaint would lead to meaningful reforms and ensure that all passengers are treated with dignity while traveling through Nigerian airports.

This is bigger than my experience. Every passenger deserves to travel without intimidation, unnecessary intrusion, or the fear of being coerced into surrendering their belongings or paying money to exercise a right they already have.

— Progress Oberiko, Passenger, United Nigeria Airlines