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The unprofessional handling of the two bizarre incidents in the nation’s aviation sector has further exposed the discriminatory enforcement of safety regulations in the sector. It has also brought to the fore the way government officials treat the rich and the poor. The first incident involved a famous Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, alias Kwam1, over allegedly obstructing the safe operation of a ValueJet aircraft at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The second incident was the reported unruly conduct of a passenger on the Uyo-Lagos bound Ibom Air flight, Ms Comfort Emmnason, which led to her disgraceful treatment by officials of airline and further detention at Kirikiri Correctional Centre, Lagos, after their arrival at Murtala Muhammed Airport. She later regained her freedom following public outrage over our selective justice system. While Kwam 1, whose offence was a major breach to air safety, was given a slap in the wrist and subsequently made an ‘ambassador’ of our aviation, Emmanson was treated as a commoner, an underdog and nobody.
Consequently, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) had in a statement signed by its President, Afam Osigwe, SAN, and General Secretary, Dr. Mobolaji Ojibara, stated that the treatment of Ms Comfort Emmanson by Ibom Air was reckless and violated her right to the dignity of a human person. The NBA also expressed worry that Emmanson was ‘forcibly removed from the aircraft, stripped of her clothing in public, and subjected to humiliation that was filmed and circulated online.’
However, this does not in any way absolve Emmanson of any wrong doing in her unruly behavior in Abom Air flight. Apart from allegedly failing to switch off her phone as instructed by the crew, the brawl that ensued between her and the crew when they arrived in Lagos was violent, embarrassing and unacceptable. We condemn the unruly conducts of both Kwam 1 and Ms Emmanson, which breached air safety. We also loathe the poor handling of the case of Emmanson by both the Ibom Air crew and the government.
Her humiliation and subsequent detention in Kirikiri Prison represent abuse of her person, human dignity and womanhood. In the case of Kwam 1, which was a more grievous breach, both the musician and the pilot ought to be severely punished for their impudence and untoward conducts which would have led to unmitigated air disaster. The ValueJet and Ibom Air incidents deserve to be diligently probed and adequate sanctions meted to all the culprits in the ugly saga and national shame.
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The poor handling of both incidents by the aviation sector is highly regrettable. It does not show that we are serious about enforcing safety rules and punishing breaches of extant aviation laws. We call on the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, SAN, to kindly revisit the two incidents and ensure that they are properly probed and adequate punishment meted to the culprits. It must no longer be business as usual in the way we do things, especially in the aviation sector, where safety is highly prioritized.
All Nigerians, irrespective of their social status and connection with those in position of authority, must be made to be equal before the law. In fact, no Nigerian should be above the law. The recourse to self-help or anarchy is unacceptable. There should be no sacred cow syndrome in the enforcement of extant rules and regulations in the aviation sector. Making Kwam 1 our aviation ‘ambassador’ is a misnomer. He should not be the face of our aviation sector. We have so many role models who should be assigned such noble roles. Good enough, Nigeria has so many heroes to choose from.
We urge all Nigerian air passengers to observe all safety rules, especially the switching off of phones and all electronic devices. It is sad that many Nigerian air travelers observe this safety rule in the breach. It is contradictory that the same Nigerians who religiously observe safety rules on international flights breach them on domestic flights. They can do without their phones and other electronic devices in a journey of barely an hour.
There is need for attitudinal change in the conduct of air and passengers. Air safety should be the concern of the crew the passengers. We also condemn the unprofessional handling of the unruly passengers. The excessive use of force in the case of Emmanson was condemnable. The ValueJet pilot’s conduct was callous and condemnable. There is need for training and retraining of all airlines crew members. Public enlightenment of air passengers on air safety should be prioritized.
