Stranded London-Lagos Air Nigeria passengers asked to contribute to buy fuel!

Air Nigeria passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport

It was a harrowing experience for the passengers of Air Nigeria who were due to fly back from London yesterday.

Their troubles are not unconnected with the announcement last week by the company's chairman, Jimoh Ibrahim that the airline will shut its operations for at least a year.

The stranded Lagos bound passengers were asked to contribute 40pounds each so that the aircraft could be fueled to fly them back to Lagos. The scheduled departure time of 9.30am was overshot by almost 8 hours and they eventually left about 5pm and arrived Lagos at 12.30am.

The suffering did not end at donating to buy fuel and arriving late, they only were told upon arrival that their luggage did not come with the flight.

A lot of the passengers were visibly angry at  the shabby treatment they received from the airline with some threatening to take legal action against them. Others simply thanked God for a safe arrival after an experience they would rather forget.

This is in deed a totally unpleasant experience and can only further damage the image of anything 'Made-in-Nigeria' which the government is trying so hard to promote.


Picture credit: SR