A number of Nigerian passengers aboard an Air France flight have found themselves stranded in Lomé, Togo, after the flight was diverted due to bad weather in Abuja. The flight, which was originally scheduled to travel from Paris to Abuja, could not land at its intended destination because of adverse weather conditions, leading to its redirection to Lomé.
Minister of Aviation Reacts to the Incident
The situation has raised concerns, particularly after the Nigerian Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, posted a statement on his official X account on Thursday night, alerting the public to the plight of the stranded passengers. In his statement, Keyamo described the circumstances surrounding the diversion and raised questions about how Air France was handling the situation.
“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,” Keyamo said. He further explained that the flight, after being redirected to Lomé, was expected to return to Abuja after the storm subsided, yet the airline was reportedly planning to leave the passengers stranded until the next day.
Keyamo expressed concern over the airline’s decision, questioning why the passengers could not be brought back to Abuja that night, even when the same flight was scheduled to return to pick up passengers. He described the situation as a “confounding” one, given that the flight could have made the return trip after the weather cleared.
Immediate Response from the Minister
Keyamo emphasized that he took swift action to resolve the issue, urging Air France to bring the passengers back to Abuja that same night or ensure they were treated according to international standards if they had to remain in Lomé. “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,” he said.
Air France Remains Silent
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from Air France regarding the situation. The airline’s silence has left many passengers and concerned individuals awaiting clarification on how the matter will be handled.
A Growing Concern for Passenger Treatment
This incident has once again brought attention to the treatment of passengers during unforeseen situations such as weather-related diversions. While weather conditions are often beyond the control of airlines, the handling of passengers during such events, especially when they are left stranded, has become a point of concern. Many are now calling for airlines to uphold better standards for passenger care, particularly in situations where diversions occur and passengers are forced to wait for extended periods.
As the story unfolds, it remains to be seen whether Air France will issue an official response and what actions will be taken to ensure the comfort and safety of the passengers involved. The swift intervention by Minister Keyamo highlights the importance of government involvement in such situations to safeguard the interests of Nigerian citizens abroad.
