A French national who disrupted flight operations and raised security concerns at Abuja's Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Wednesday has been sedated and deported to Paris.
Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, disclosed this on Friday, noting that the French national was put on a plane back home at 10pm on Thursday.
"Examined by a doctor and placed on a sedative, the unruly French national has finally boarded an Air France flight to CDG (Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport), Paris. I was physically present to witness his boarding at 10pm tonight, along with the very capable terminal head, Miriam Anosike who did a yeoman's job in this case, Ifueko Abdulmalik, and gallant men of the Nigeria Immigration Service,” he said.
"I must mention that the Immigration Commander at the airport, Mr. Agada was very cooperative. His willingness to collaborate with Miriam was the glue that held all of this together.
"We advised the airline to let the cabin crew have some of the administered sedatives in case the passenger displays any disruptive behaviour during the course of the flight.”
"Kudos to both the NCAA, Nigeria Immigration Service, and the Air France station manager who did an amazing job of attending to the passenger," the statement added.
SaharaReporters on Thursday reported how the unidentified French national on Wednesday disrupted activities at Abuja airport.
It was learnt that the passenger was deboarded by Air France that had a stop in Nigeria, when he became a safety risk.
Achimugu made this known in a post on his X account on Wednesday, noting that the passenger was initially deboarded from an Air France flight “due to disruptive behaviour that posed a safety risk to other passengers.”
He affirmed that since he did not possess a Nigerian visa, he was not allowed into Abuja. He added that being a French national, he was visited by staff of the French Embassy and a doctor and then granted accommodation in the hotel within the airport terminal.
He said, "Yesterday, Air France deboarded an unruly passenger at the Abuja International Airport. His disruptive behaviour in the aircraft was a safety risk for other passengers.
"Since he did not possess a Nigerian visa, he was not allowed into Abuja. Being a French national, he was visited by staff of the French Embassy and a doctor and then granted accommodation in the hotel within the airport terminal.
"Later, British Airways deboarded him due to the same unruly behaviour he had put up aboard Air France.
"Today, he was supposed to depart via Asky but could not present evidence of payment for the e-'ticket' he presented. The airline declined to airlift him.
"Immigration officials had quite a hectic time handling the erratic passenger who can be seen littering our clean terminal with what seems to be tissue paper and screaming, "My passport, my passport."
"Apparently, the Immigration officers wanted to ensure that he boarded his flight before handing the passenger his international passport to prevent him from escaping through the exit gate and into the city.
"NCAA Consumer Protection regional head, Miriam Anosike, understanding the security, safety, and diplomatic ramifications of the case, addressed Air France personnel sternly, reminding them that they brought the passenger to Nigeria and must be responsible for airlifting him out of Nigeria as he is becoming a liability to the country.”
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