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KFC is in the eye of the storm for telling Debola Daniel that no wheelchair is allowed at its restaurant.
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The customer, a son of a former Ogun governor, accused the restaurant of denying him entry in Lagos.
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KFC risks a fine of N1 million based on the Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Debola Daniel, the son of a former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has revealed how a KFC branch at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos State, told him wheelchairs are not allowed at its restaurant.
In a series of tweets posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Wednesday, Daniel said the incident occurred Tuesday night.
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The banker, who is physically challenged, moves with the aid of a wheelchair and is a vocal advocate for the rights of people with special needs.
Narrating his experience at KFC, the international restaurant brand, at the Lagos airport, Daniel said he and his family were about to sit in the restaurant when someone he assumed to be the branch’s manager yelled that “no wheelchairs allowed.”
The customer, who noted that it was not his first time patronising the restaurant, said the discriminatory language shocked and confused him as well as his brother and wife who were with him.
My siblings and wife became instantly irate and proceeded to debate her position with her, ultimately cumulating in raised voices and strong verbal protests. If there’s one thing I hate more than anything in this life is to create a scene. I detest it. I do not like to draw… pic.twitter.com/dY3zlOXgFK
— Cub Of The West (@DebolaDaniel) March 27, 2024
He accused the restaurant manager of refusing to listen to reason and standing her ground that at KFC, Murtala Muhammed branch, wheelchairs and wheelchair users of all shapes and sizes were not permitted in the premises, allegedly asking them to “leave immediately.”
Daniel, who noted that the discriminatory policy harkens back to dark periods in recent history, lamented that treating disabled people in such manner was unacceptable as there are approximately 27 million Nigerians living with some form of disability, representing over 13% of the country.
He is now asking KFC whether the treatment meted on him represents their approach to disabled customers, further wondering whether he is not human enough for KFC.
The food company is yet to respond to the accusations.
KFC’s alleged action is in contravention of the Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018.
The law, which came into effect on January 17, 2019, mandates that a person with disability shall not be discriminated against on the ground of his disability by any person or institution in any manner or circumstance.
It adds that a person who contravenes this mandate commits an offence and is liable on conviction to, if the person is a body corporate, a fine of N1,000,000.
This is not the first time Daniel has complained about the rough treatment of people with special needs in Nigeria.
In January 2023, he expressed deep regret over how physically challenged Nigerians are not properly cared for, saying to be a disabled Nigerian is a lonely, scary and isolated place.
The banker addressed the stereotype in a series of tweets, citing the Murtala Muhammad International Airport and Burna Boy’s concert as examples of lack of adequate access for disabled Nigerians.
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“From an accessible perspective, that concert was a disaster. Maybe later I will do a thread about how Nigerian events constantly exclude people who look like me,” he wrote on X.
Read the full account of Debola Daniel’s experience at the KFC, Murtala Muhammed International Airport branch below:
Being disabled often rolls over my spirit, leaving behind a trail of shattered dignity and forgotten humanity. Nowhere more so than in Nigeria.
I have never been the type of person to make a fuss or complain about my disability. My approach has always been “laissez faire”. Ultimately, it is what it is. It is a part of my identity and like everyone else, I have my days of self doubt and confusion as to how/if I fit in society.
To be a disabled in Nigeria is to be undesirable, unwelcome and unaccepted. As I’ve said before, it’s a lonely, scary and isolated place.
Never has this been more true than it has ever been today where I faced the worst sort of public humiliation that I have ever experienced. To think that this happened at an international brand @kfc @kfcnigeria at an international airport – Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos – is unthinkable.
I arrived at the airport as normal for my Virgin Atlantic flight to London. I’m a frequent flyer and I’m extremely familiar with all due processes at Murtala Muhammed Airport. Years ago, after all security and immigration formalities have been completed, I would normally go to the OASIS lounge to wait for my flight.
For the past 3 years, the lift to the lounge has been out of service so I’ve often found solace in other establishments, sometimes lounges, sometimes restaurants such as @kfc @kfcnigeria
Today I chose KFC – what a colossal mistake. I entered the restaurant with 4 other travel companions consisting of my brothers and wife. The security personnel at KFC, Samuel, greeted me by name as I’ve been there multiple times. Just as we were about to sit, the lady at the till – who was apparently the manager – called out loudly, “NO WHEELCHAIRS ALLOWED”.Our group paused in confusion, before my brother, Taiwo, asked what she meant. She refused to listen to reason and stood her ground that at @kfc @kfcnigeria Murtala Muhammed branch, wheelchairs and wheelchair users of all shapes and sizes were not permitted in the premises and we should leave immediately.
My siblings and wife became instantly irate and proceeded to debate her position with her, ultimately cumulating in raised voices and strong verbal protests. If there’s one thing I hate more than anything in this life is to create a scene. I detest it. I do not like to draw attention to myself and as such I began pleading with my people that we should just leave.
@kfc @kfcnigeria My wife took some video footage and my brothers took some pictures. There were at least 5 other witnesses at the scene, who tried to intervene as things unfolded. Eventually our party departed to another lounge upset and quite frankly pissed off.
Normally I would let these things slide but not today. When calmer heads prevailed, my wife and brother – Mayowa – went back and under the guise of buying some food and while audio recording, she questioned the lady again and the lady reiterated her position that the business does not allow wheelchairs into their premises.
@kfc @kfcnigeria She stated that although she recently just transferred to that branch, it is something that has been drummed into them. NO WHEELCHAIRS ALLOWED.It harkens back to dark periods in recent history…
No wheelchairs allowed…
No coloureds allowed….
No blacks allowed…
@kfc @kfcnigeria Today I felt less than human, like a guard dog not allowed into the house. Lonely and isolated.
I will continue to escalate this exponentially until I get a reasonable resolution and there’s no stopping me. You cannot treat people this way. There are approximately 27 million Nigerians living with some form of disability. That’s over 13% of the country. 1 in 6 people on the planet are disabled. You MUST NOT treat people this way.
@kfc @kfcnigeria So my question to @kfc @kfcnigeria is simple. Does this represent your approach to disabled customers or will you be looking into this? Am I not human enough for KFC?
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