By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Some Nigerian passengers were left frustrated and delayed after an Air France flight, traveling from Paris to Abuja, was rerouted to Lomé, Togo, due to bad weather in the Nigerian capital.
This unexpected turn of events prompted a quick response from Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo. He voiced his concerns over how Air France handled the situation.
The airline’s decision to land in Lomé was made to avoid a risky landing in Abuja caused by severe weather. However, Keyamo expressed dissatisfaction with the airline’s plan to leave passengers stranded overnight in Lomé, despite the weather in Abuja clearing up and the aircraft being ready to return.
Taking to his official social media, Keyamo confirmed that he had contacted both his team and Air France to demand immediate action. He insisted that passengers be promptly flown back to Abuja or, if they had to stay in Lomé, they should receive proper accommodations and care according to international standards.
“I’ve been alerted about the situation involving mostly Nigerian passengers stuck in Lomé by Air France. I stressed that they must return to Abuja tonight, or if they stay in Lomé, they should be treated according to best international standards,” Keyamo tweeted on Thursday night.
Passengers, understandably upset, had voiced concerns about the lack of communication and the potential for being left stranded. Thankfully, due to Keyamo’s intervention, efforts were made to ensure their safe return to Abuja.