The Seymour Aviation Multi-level Car Park at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, has turned a safe haven for thieves who specialize in vandalizing parked vehicles.
Motorists and travelers alike have complained severally of 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-storey ultramodern facility seems helpless.
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 moved the Highlander SUV and proceeded to pick his boss.
“It was my boss that noticed that one of the side mirrors and rear light had been ripped off. I was totally in shock because I had not seen anything like that before. Some people said such things now happen at the car park,” Emiola lamented.
Managing Director of a firm in Victoria Island, Lagos, also had a similar experience a few days to Christmas.
In the company of his driver, he 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-storey 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.
Meanwhile, both the FAAN and operator of the facility are passing the buck on security.