Your Boys Are Here!” – Lawmaker Slams Airport Officials, Tells Keyamo To End Begging Culture

The Senator representing Imo West, Osita Izunaso, has called on the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to caution airport officials against soliciting money from travellers.

Speaking at an event themed “Responsible Communication: The Voice of the World,” Izunaso described the conduct of some airport personnel as a national embarrassment.

While commending Keyamo for the visible improvements in the aviation sector, the lawmaker urged him to take decisive action against the unprofessional behaviour of officers from the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, and other agencies operating at airports.

He said,

“Honourable Minister, a lot has been said about your efforts at the airports. When you arrive now, you simply pick your bag and move freely — that’s commendable. But you must also address the conduct of customs, immigration, and other staff. You still hear things like, ‘Your boys are here, Sir!’ or ‘We greet you, Sir!’ These remarks do not project a good image of our country.”

Izunaso stressed that such practices — including suggestive greetings and subtle demands for tips — tarnish Nigeria’s image, especially before foreign visitors.

“For us Nigerians, we know what ‘Your boys are here’ really means. Please, tell them there will be no more ‘Your boys or girls are here.’ Even their body language sometimes says it all. This must stop, particularly as we prepare to host an international event,” he added.

However, the President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Ike Neliaku, disagreed with Izunaso’s assessment, insisting that the aviation sector has witnessed remarkable progress under Keyamo’s leadership.

“I recently returned from South Africa through our international airport, and there’s been a lot of improvement. Nobody said ‘Your boys are here’ to me. Nigeria is changing,” Neliaku said, assuring that the country’s global image is improving.

Supporting this, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, lauded Keyamo’s reforms.

“I commend the Minister of Aviation for transforming our airports. What we’re seeing under his tenure is truly unprecedented. Thank you, Mr. Festus Keyamo, for making us proud,” Idris remarked.