Lagos State Government rewards Airport Cleaner

A cleaner at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Miss Josephine Ugwu, who found and returned N12 million belonging to a foreign passenger, has been honoured by the National Orientation Agency (NOA).

Director General of the agency, Mr Mike Omeri, yesterday awarded Miss Ugwu the Citizens Responsibility Recognition award for her honesty.

Josephine is a cleaner with Patovilki Industrial Cleaning, a Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) concessionaire. The NOA director general said the federal government was honouring her for "doing the right thing".

Omeri said the agency would not relent in rewarding Nigerians who exhibit such honesty in the discharge of their duties.

He urged airport staff to continue to display such exemplary conduct which is the traditional way of life of Nigerians.

He said the airport cleaner had joined the league of other honest Nigerians.

"The federal government, through the National Orientation Agency, decided to honour the airport cleaner as a way of rewarding honesty and transparency. I want to urge all airport staff to remain honest, which is part of what we are as a people. Many people have been given this recognition in the past, and we hope it will serve as a platform for honour" he said.

The FAAN Regional Manager, South West Airports, Mr Remi Aromiwura, said the airport authorities were excited over the conduct of the cleaner, which is enough evidence that the environment is safe for passengers and users of its facilities.

He urged other airport workers to emulate her conduct which has brought honour to the airport and Nigeria.