Motorists and travelers have complained about forced entries into parked cars, removal of car accessories and personal effects, coupled with harassment of users. Most worrisome is that the operator of the six-story ultramodern facility is as well handicapped.
The Managing Director of a firm in Victoria Island, Lagos, experienced this laps a few days to Christmas while in the company of his driver. They had gone to Lagos International Airport to pick up family members arriving for the Christmas holiday. “At 2:30 p.m. we pulled into the multi-story parking facility. We noted that this is the official FAAN’s designated parking garage, though they claim it is concessioned.
“At about 4:00 p.m., the driver went to pay for the parking fees to exit the garage to go pick the arriving guests. When he got back to the car, both driving mirrors had been stolen. They had ripped both mirrors off the Lexus 460 SUV.
“On complaining at the FAAN Security (TANGO) office, they summoned the Garage supervisor, who said they have a sign that says cars are “parked at owners’ risk”, hence they are not liable.
“Airport parking garage at Murtala Muhammed International Airport is being operated by a syndicate of thieves. You (the general public) will need to send two people and let one person protect your car. Do not leave your cars there alone. Please, forward to warn others, especially this Christmas period. This is how low we have come,” he stated, in a message on social media.
The car park facility, built at the estimated cost of N8 billion, is a partnership between Seymour Aviation Limited and FAAN and it started operations in October 2017. Under the Build, Operate and Transfer arrangement, Seymour Aviation is to run the 1,300 parking lot spread across the six-level structure for 30 years.
Reacting to inquiries, an official of the facility, who pleaded anonymity, said the management was not responsible for the security of the facility.
He said besides the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) handling the entire Aviation Security, “we have clearly put the signage that cars are parked at owners’ risk’.
“So, if you have any complaint, please take it to FAAN,” he said.
Lagos Airport Manager, Victoria Shin-aba, denied the operator’s claim. She said: “No! The security of the car park is Seymour ‘s responsibility, while FAAN handles the security of the entire airport,” Shin-aba replied.
A driver, Kehinde Emiola, had parked at the facility on Monday while awaiting his principal’s return around noon. About 30 minutes later, according to him, he fetched the Highlander Jeep and proceeded to pick his boss.
“It was my boss that noticed that one of the side mirrors and rear light were gone. I was totally in shock because I have not seen anything like that before. Some people said such things now happen at the car park,” Emiola said.
