Chaos broke out at the Abuja International Airport on Tuesday when an unruly passenger of French origin disrupted multiple flights, sparking security and diplomatic concerns.
According to Michael Achimugu, Director of Consumer Protection and Public Affairs at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the passenger, whose identity stays undisclosed, was initially debarred from the Air France flight as a consequence of disruptive behavior that posed a threat to the protection of other passengers.
After landing in Abuja, the passenger was refused entry into the country with no valid Nigerian visa. Air France accommodated him in a hotel within the airport terminal after a visit from French Embassy staff and a health care provider. However, his erratic behavior continued.
The situation escalated when British Airways also refused to airlift the person as a consequence of similar disruptions. During the scheduled departure with Asky Airlines, the passenger didn’t provide proof of payment for the ticket, which led to the passenger being denied boarding.
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Achimugu, in a post on X on Wednesday, also said that immigration officials faced significant challenges in managing the passenger, who was seen littering the terminal with tissue paper and loudly demanding a passport.
The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) reportedly detained his passport to make sure that he didn’t illegally leave the airport premises.
“Since he didn’t have a Nigerian visa, he was not allowed to enter Abuja. As a French citizen, he was visited by the French Embassy staff and a health care provider, and then provided accommodation in a hotel within the airport terminal.
“He was later banned by British Airways for a similar unruly behavior he had engaged in on Air France.
“Today he was imagined to leave via Asky, but he couldn’t provide proof of payment for the e-ticket presented. The airlines refused to move him on the plane.
“Immigration officers have had quite a hectic time dealing with an erratic passenger who can be seen littering our clean terminal with what appears to be tissue paper and shouting: “My passport, my passport.”
“Apparently, immigration officers wanted to make sure he boarded the plane before handing the passenger an international passport to prevent him from escaping through the exit gate into the city.”
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He added that Miriam Anosike, the NCAA Regional Head of Consumer Protection, understanding the protection, security and diplomatic implications of the matter, made a stern statement to the Air France staff, reminding them that they’d brought a passenger to Nigeria and they have to be chargeable for the air transportation from Nigeria because it becomes a burden to the country.
“If you are afraid to carry it on a plane, why do you expect other airlines to be responsible for it? Buy him a ticket and move him tomorrow!”
Meanwhile, the incident has raised concerns about security lapses at the airport. Some questioned why the passenger was allowed to disembark and suggested aviation security must have detained him sooner.
Dípò Awójídé, responding to @mikeachimugu01, said: “Aviation security must have at all times been on alert and must have stopped him sooner than it took to record this video. If you begin behaving strangely and uncontrolled at the airport, that person must be detained. Anything can occur in 10-30 seconds. “I commend these officers’ restraint, but next time we must act faster.”
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Also @eyin_mbakara replying to @mikeachimugu01 said
“From what I can gather from your explanation, I believe there have been some safety lapses on both the airline, FAAN and NIS side. “He wasn’t allowed to get off the plane in the first place, so what happened, why was he even allowed to go through the gate to board.”
The NCAA confirmed that it is going to monitor Air France’s operations to make sure the secure transportation of the passenger by air from Nigeria.
