Abuja - President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has directed the Minister of State for Transportation in charge of Aviation, Mr. Felix Hyatt, to immediately investigate reports of maltreatment of Nigerian passengers by the British Airways and other foreign airlines.

This is against the backdrop of protest by Nigerians on board a British Airways Flight 0075 from London to Lagos on March 27, 2008. The President was particularly miffed at the incident in which British Airways officials allegedly ordered over 100 Nigerians off the London–Lagos bound flight.

The passengers were protesting the brutal treatment of a Nigerian deportee aboard the flight.

The President also directed the Aviation Minister to officially notify all foreign airlines operating in the country that the Federal Government would no longer tolerate the maltreatment of Nigerian passengers aboard their aircraft. President Yar’Adua expressed disgust at the nonchalant attitude of British Airways officials in response to the incident.

The President directed the minister to furnish him with a report of the development on the completion of the investigation.

It will be recalled that Niajawire.com was one of the first to comment on the BA incident (Nigerians in Diaspora to boycott of British Airways) in which a Nigerian passenger on the flight,  Ayodeji Omotade, joined other Nigerians on board to protest the indecent treatment of a Nigerian deportee (name withheld) on the flight. Mr Omotade has since been banned from flying on any British Airways aircraft for life.

Click here to read the incidence as reported by Naijawire.com

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