Nigerian passengers aboard an Air France flight have been left stranded in Lomé, Togo, following a diversion caused by bad weather in Abuja.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, raised the alarm over the situation in a statement posted on his official X account on Thursday night.

Keyamo revealed that the Air France flight from Paris to Abuja was unable to land due to adverse weather conditions and was redirected to Lomé. However, he expressed concern over the airline’s handling of the situation.

He said, “I have just been alerted of a situation involving mostly Nigerian passengers left stranded at Lome, Togo, by Air France. I am told that the flight from Paris bound for Abuja could not land due to the bad weather in Abuja this evening.

“The flight then diverted to Lome. However, the confounding situation now is that instead of bringing the passengers back to Abuja after the storm subsided, there are plans to leave them in Lome till tomorrow, even when that same flight will return to Abuja tonight to pick up passengers.”

The minister disclosed that he immediately took action to address the issue, engaging both his officials and the airline’s representatives.

“After directing my Director of Air Transport management to call the country manager of Air France, I also personally called Air France Nigeria a few minutes ago and insisted that those passengers must be brought back to Abuja tonight or be treated in line with best international standards if they must sleep in Lome.”

As of the time of filing this report, Air France had yet to issue an official statement regarding the matter.

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from TheNigerian.

Contact: [email protected]

The Lagos State Police Command on Friday arraigned three Air Peace Passengers before a Magistrate’s Court in Ikeja, over alleged disruptive behaviour aboard Air Peace Flight No. P4 7579 from London to Lagos.

The three passengers are identified as Adewale Adedigba (52), Magnis Ashibuogwu (50) and Iwunze Benjamin (30).

Their arrest and subsequent arraignment followed an incident that occurred on February 12, 2025, at approximately 8pm when the defendants reportedly engaged in disrupting the flight by shouting on top of their voices, causing panic and public disturbance among passengers and crew.

Police alleged that their actions breached the public peace under Section 168(1)(d) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

Further allegations revealed that the trio unlawfully moved from their originally assigned economy class seats to the business class section during the flight without authorisation.

Police said this conduct, which violated Section 4(1)(a)(b) of the FAAN Bye-Law 2005, prompted swift intervention from the airline staff, who reported the incident upon landing at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.

The prosecution, led by SP Oladipupo Taiwo, pressed for strict adherence to aviation laws to deter similar incidents in the future.

During the hearing, the defendants’ plea was not immediately taken, leading the magistrate to adjourn the case to March 3, 2025 for a hearing.

The adjournment was to allow the prosecution and defence to prepare their arguments, with potential penalties including fines or imprisonment, if the defendants are found guilty.

A United Airlines flight bound for Washington Dulles International Airport in the United States was forced to make an emergency return to Lagos on Thursday after developing a technical fault mid-air.

The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 with registration number N27903, departed Lagos for Washington, D.C., but declared an emergency shortly after takeoff, prompting the captain to turn back. The crew maintained the emergency transponder code 7700—an international distress signal—until the aircraft landed safely in Lagos.

The flight, designated UA613, had 245 passengers, 80 flight attendants, and three pilots on board. Several passengers reportedly sustained injuries due to the turbulence, with videos and images from inside the aircraft showing food trays and luggage scattered across the cabin.

While the exact cause of the emergency was yet to be officially determined, some passengers suspected an engine-related issue. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) is expected to conduct a thorough investigation to ascertain the cause.

Confirming the incident, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu, assured that affected passengers had been accommodated in hotels in line with regulatory requirements.

“Yes, it is true, and no problems, the passengers have been lodged into a hotel as stipulated by the NCAA Act,” Achimugu said.

United Airlines also acknowledged the incident in a brief statement, attributing the emergency return to a “technical issue.”

“Flight UA613 from Lagos to Washington, D.C., returned to Lagos to address a technical issue. After landing safely, the aircraft was met by first responders to address reports of minor injuries to several passengers and crew,” the airline stated.

Sierra Leone National carrier, Air Sierra Leone, has resumed its scheduled flight operations between Lagos and Freetown after over 15 years of inactiveness.

Air Sierra Leone returned to Nigeria in partnership with a Nigerian airline, XEJet.

While XEjet provides technical support to the airline, it also provides three operational aircraft for the airline to return to the country.

While speaking with journalists at the sideline of the inaugural flight ceremony, on Wednesday, at the Lagos airport, Air Sierra Leone General Manager, Edgard Lacle, expressed joy for the return of the airline to the country.

Lacle told journalists that the airline has secured permission to operate in the country three times weekly; on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Promising that the schedule will be increased as the number of passengers increases.

For the inaugural flight to Lagos, the airline boss said its aircraft conveyed 36 passengers into the country.

He said, “The connection between Sierra Leone and Nigeria is strong, especially in terms of trade and we have a market and everybody is trying to part in that market.

“The trade is top, tourism is part of it and the connection between Sierra Leone and Nigeria.

“The partnership is a technical one and they provide aircraft. The aircraft suits the market and movement of passengers. The moment we see the market changes we will adjust.”

Also speaking the Chief Executive Officer of XEJET, Iza Emmanuel, describes the event as a rebirth of the Air Sierra Leo in Nigeria.
He added that the airline was created as a beacon of hope, progress, and resilience for Sierra Leone.

He said “After over 15 years, the Sierra Leonean flag again takes to the skies. To our dignitaries and guests from Sierra Leone and Nigeria, your presence here today is a testament to the strong bonds of friendship and cooperation that unite our nations. It is also a reflection of the shared vision of growth, connectivity, and opportunity for our people. We are truly honored to have you join us in celebrating this remarkable milestone.”

Flight disruption looms in the nation’s aviation sector as unions direct staff workers of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) to proceed on strike from February 4th, 2025.

In a letter to the director general of NIMET, Prof. Charles Anosike, the National Union Of Air National Union Of Air Transport Employees (NUATE);  Amalgamated Union Of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical And Recreational Services Employees (AUPCCSTRSE) and Association Of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), alleged that the management has refused to comply with ministerial directive for the review of Conditions of Service.

The unions also accused the NiMet management of non-implementation of the reviewed scheme of service of the Agency since 2019.

The letter titled, ‘RE: Failure To Respond To Lawful And Reasonable Demands – 14 Days ultimatum,’ the unions said the workers in the agency do not deserve the suffering that the actions and inaction of your Management continue to mete out to them.

“We are highly concerned that your Management has inexplicably refused all entreaties from our Unions to address the extremely adverse circumstances of the workers of NiMet. Despite being evidently aware of the clear backward state of NiMet’s staff welfare status in the aviation industry, your Management remains unmoved and lethargic in addressing this obvious malady.

“Our unions have severally, individually and jointly, sought to call your attention to these issues, but, these efforts, including ultimatum, have been totally rebuffed, or ignored completely by you.

This sad narrative, you must admit, stands your Management in a very poor state in industrial relations administration.

 

“Our Unions stand on good grounds to refuse to continue to be so treated, more importantly, the workers of the Agency do not deserve the suffering that the actions and inaction of your Management continue to mete out to them.

 

*The issues are non-implementation of new minimum; non-payment of nine months arrears of consequential adjustment of the 2019 Minimum Wage Act; Refusal to comply with ministerial directive for the review of Conditions of Service; non-implementation of the reviewed scheme of service of the Agency since 2019.

 

Others are, “Non-payment of 40 per cent peculiar allowance; non-payment of. 25-35 per cent wage award; non-payment of Hardship Allowance; failure to aid the process of transition from CONMETSS; refusal to meet with our Union over these issues, and other states issues.

 

“In the light of the foregoing, we wish to inform you that the Unions as named above shall be moved to commence industrial action against the Agency after 14 days from date if the stated issues are not completely ameliorated. Therefore, all workers of NiMet by copy of this letter are hereby directed to withdraw all services at the Agency with effect from 6am on Tuesday 4th of February, 2025 unless otherwise directed.”

Flight disruptions loomed in the nation’s aviation sector as workers of the Nigeria Metrological Agency (NiMET) have been directed to proceed on strike action from February 4, 2025.

In a joint letter to the director-general of NiMET, Prof. Charles Anosike, the National Union Of Air Transport Employees (NUATE); Amalgamated Union Of Public Corporations; Civil Service Technical And Recreational Services Employees (AUPCCSTRSE), and Association Of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), alleged that the management of NiMET has refused to comply with ministerial directive for the review of Conditions of Service of its workers.

The unions also accused the NiMet management of non-implementation of the reviewed scheme of service of the agency since 2019.

The letter titled, ‘RE: Failure To Respond To Lawful And Reasonable Demands – 14 Days ultimatum,’ the unions said the workers in the agency do not deserve the sufferings that the actions and inactions of the NiMET leadership has continued to mete out to them.

“We are highly concerned that your Management has inexplicably refused all entreaties from our Unions to address the extremely adverse circumstances of the workers of NiMet. Despite being evidently aware of the clear backward state of NiMet’s staff welfare status in the aviation industry, your Management remains unmoved and lethargic in addressing this obvious malady.

“Our unions have severally, individually and jointly, sought to call your attention to these issues, but, these efforts, including ultimatum, have been totally rebuffed, or ignored completely by you. This sad narrative, you must admit, stands your Management in very poor state in industrial relations administration.

“Our Unions stand on good grounds to refuse to continue to be so treated, more importantly, the workers of the Agency do not deserve the suffering that the actions and inaction of your Management continue to mete out to them,” they stated.

LEADERSHIP reports that the bone of contention includes non-implementation of new minimum wage; non-payment of nine-month arrears of consequential adjustment of the 2019 Minimum Wage Act; refusal to comply with ministerial directive for the review of Conditions of Service, and non-implementation of the reviewed scheme of service of the Agency since 2019.

Others included, “Non-payment of 40% peculiar allowance; non-payment of. 25-35% wage award; non-payment of Hardship Allowance; failure to aid the process of transition from CONMETSS; refusal to meet with our Union over these issues, and other states issues.

“In the light of the foregoing, we wish to inform you that the Unions as named above shall be moved to commence industrial action against the Agency after fourteen (14) days from date if the stated issues are not completely ameliorated. Therefore, all workers of NiMet by copy of this letter are hereby directed to withdraw all services at the Agency with effect from 6am on Tuesday 4th of February, 2025 unless otherwise directed.”

The Nigeria Police Force has arraigned an disorderly Ibom Air passenger, Ms Chiamaka Don Ubani on a two-count charges after preventing Flight Q1528 from flying last Wednesday.

The flight with 89 passengers on board, scheduled to take off from Uyo en route Abuja was single-handedly prevented from moving over a baggage issue.

Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr Michael Achimugu, disclosed this in a post on X.

Achimugu said the passenger was charged for “intentionally and maliciously preventing the door of the aircraft from closing and causing obstruction of Flight Q1528 from flying, thereby committed offence punishable under Section 436 of the Criminal Code, Cap 39, Volume 2, Laws of Akwa Ibom State.”

Another count charge stated that for “constituting herself into a public nuisance by obstructing flight Q1528 from flying at the scheduled time, an act which caused inconvenience or damage to passengers already boarded and the general public and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 196(1)(f) of the criminal code.”

Achimugu disclosed that the passenger has since been released on bail as a new date has been fixed at the Uyo Magistrate Court for February 4, 2025.

The NCAA, has however, urged all passengers to shun unruly behaviour at the terminals and inside aircraft and urged that complaints can be sent to [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected].

 

Save for the intervention of Aviation Security (AVSEC) personnel and officials of Ibom Air, a female passenger would have been attacked by other angry passengers after her ‘unruly behaviour’ caused the cancellation of an Uyo-Abuja flight at the Obong Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, last Wednesday.

This was revealed by the spokesman of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu, through a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Saturday.

Achimugu said the unnamed female passenger’s action caused 89 other passengers on board to lose their valuable time, money, and opportunities with Ibom Air losing millions of naira in addition to ‘a serious scheduling conundrum’.

He narrated: “On Wednesday, 08/01/2025, an Ibom Air flight scheduled to depart Uyo for Abuja at 1730hrs was viciously disrupted by a single passenger’s unruly behaviour.

“Her actions (captured below by other irate passengers) ensured that 89 other passengers on board lost valuable time, money, and opportunities. She also caused Ibom Air millions of naira plus a serious scheduling conundrum.

“All passengers had been informed during check-in that, due to weight restrictions, some or all of their luggage MAY NOT arrive on the same flight. Passengers with luggage above 20kg signed indemnity forms in this regard, while those whose bags were in the region of 20kg were informed verbally that their bags would arrive on the next scheduled flight. They agreed, including this passenger.

“After boarding, she noticed that her bag was not among the luggage loaded into the bowels of the aircraft. She angrily stepped down from the aircraft and insisted that her bags be loaded. Otherwise, NOBODY was going to fly.

“Even the intervention of FAAN AVSEC and the pilot did not let her budge. The pilot offered to carry her checked in bag in the cabin, but the size did not fit.

“All the while, the pilot was taking note of the time because Uyo was a sunset airport, and the airspace would be shut down any moment.

“AVSEC then explained to the angry passenger that she would have to be deboarded if she refused to travel without the bag. She asked to be allowed to pick her handbag from the cabin, only to get in there and block the aisle, insisting that the flight would not depart without her bags.

“Among the 89 other passengers was an infant and a chef who was travelling to provide paid service to a big client in Abuja.

“Despite all pleas, she held the plane hostage until the airspace was closed. Consequently, the pilot had to announce a cancellation of the flight.

“It was at that moment that other passengers became irate. Had AVSEC and Ibom Air personnel led by Amaka Echetabu not been on top of their game, the unruly passenger would have been lynched.”

Achimugu saluted the timely intervention that saved the woman’s her life, noting that the airline had to provide immediate refreshment, transportation for passengers who were resident in Uyo, and hotel accommodation for those who came from out of town at great and avoidable cost.

“This means that the airline would have catered twice for the same flight.

“Added to this was the fact that a scheduling challenge has now been created automatically, one that will take days to normalize. For an industry where profit margins are extremely thin, this was very avoidable,” the NCAA director of public affairs and consumer protection added.