By Zik Gbemre
This incident that happened between Comfort Emmanson and Akwa Ibom airline staff in Lagos Airport that resulted in aviation scandal is shameful and disgraceful.
As said by Oghenetejiri in an on-line statement, “This story is really sad. But who is at fault. Surely we are lawless but in a country with laws. What is the right way to approach such a customer?
“The act has happened, it has escalated physically. There should be some standard of care and Safety procedure to deescalate such”.
Too many scandal surrounding the aviation authority and their untrained personnel and passengers in recent times. Agreed Comfort Emmanson has anger issue but if well managed by Akwa-Ibom airline staff and Aviation personnel it won’t even show in any media or being spread as talk of the year. It is common sense.
Such angry passengers could be managed and leave without any show of shame. Banning Comfort Emmanson from using any Aviation facility in Nigeria won’t solve any problem from happening in future.
Such angry passengers could be allowed to leave the aircraft without fight and the point of exiting the airport she could be approached politely by police in a soft language that you are invited by police and that ends the matter or even allow the angry passengers to leave.
But in this case Comfort Emmanson was dragged out by security men of the airport with the torn clothes exposing her body to the public under video coverage. Dehumanising Comfort Emmanson by Aviation staff is offensive.
What is even the problem since the aircraft has landed safety in Lagos so why the show of strength to carry Comfort Emmanson like a common criminal. She is a passenger and deserves some respect. They say customer is always right.
I think the approach on Comfort Emmanson was too timid and harsh for unarmed passenger. Why tearing her clothes and exposing her body? The drama is a shame to Nigerian Aviation authority.
Festus Keyamo has a lot to do to educate the Aviation staff. The multinationals do well in business in Nigeria because they give roles to personnel that have capacity and capability and not just being retired police, military or DSS to manage security outfit. Also same with external relations.
O.J Agbarah who was Shell VP Security Africa was a production engineering personnel for years. Even Mason Oghenejobo who took over from O.J Agbarah as VP Shell security Africa is a Petroleum Engineer. When you appoint personnel without capacity and capability to manage corporate businesses and industries the result is always bad.
So the aviation sector needs overhauling with the rank and file down to top management personnel to avoid negative stories like Comfort Emmanson and aviation scandal.
Shameful to pull out Comfort Emmanson naked from the aircraft in Lagos. It is not about being held by police and remanded in prison for what has happened. The entire show of shame could have been avoided with well trained aviation personnel. It is common sense.
Minister Festus Keyamo must call aviation personnel to order and avoid having problems with passengers always over issues that can be resolved without cameras. She couldn’t have picked fire extinguisher to hit aviation staff if conversation didn’t escalate to fighting. Who stopped Comfort Emmanson from using the fire extinguisher from hitting the staff? It is all lies cooked up against the passenger.
Dehumanising Comfort Emmanson is totally bad and ministry of aviation and Akwa-Ibom airline should apologise to Comfort Emmanson and withdraw their case against the passenger who was dehumanised by aviation personnel.
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