Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) Nigeria, an international fast food restaurant chain, has issued a formal apology to Adebola Daniel, son of Gbenga Daniel, former governor of Ogun State, following allegations of discriminatory treatment.
In a statement released on Thursday, KFC expressed deep regret for the distress experienced by the customer and vowed to take swift action to address the issue.
The incident, which occurred on March 27 at the KFC outlet in the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) branch, was brought to light by Daniel himself through his official social media page.
Daniel recounted being denied entry to the restaurant along with his family, citing a discriminatory policy allegedly barring individuals using wheelchairs.
In response to the outcry, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) announced the temporary closure of the KFC outlet at MMIA, citing discrimination against Daniel.
FAAN demanded a written apology from KFC management to Daniel and the posting of a non-discrimination policy statement at the restaurant’s entrance before resuming operations.
Reaffirming its commitment to inclusivity and respect, KFC emphasized its opposition to bias or discrimination in any form, labeling inclusivity and respect as non-negotiable pillars of its values.
The fast food chain acknowledged the need for immediate action, announcing plans to implement inclusion training for all employees and ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future.
Meanwhile, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) condemned the discriminatory treatment faced by Daniel.
Adamu Abdullahi, acting executive vice chairman and CEO of FCCPC, emphasized the commission’s dedication to safeguarding consumer interests and vowed to ensure appropriate redress for the aggrieved consumer.
Abdullahi reiterated the FCCPC’s commitment to eliminating practices detrimental to consumer welfare, stating that discriminatory actions like those witnessed at the KFC outlet undermine consumer principles and will not be tolerated under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act.
