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Summary
Arinola Ajeyileka, a Nigerian entrepreneur with a disability, has called on the government and aviation minister to address the discriminatory treatment she received from Emirates Airline after they refused to accommodate her mobility scooter on her return journey from Guangzhou, China.
Nigerian entrepreneur Arinola Ajeyileka has urged the government and aviation minister to take action against Emirates Airline. Arinola, a passenger who relies on a mobility scooter for her autonomy, shared her ordeal using Emirates Airline after they refused to accommodate her scooter on her return journey from Guangzhou, China.
Travelling from Lagos to Guangzhou for business, she recounted how the airline accepted her mobility scooter on the outbound flight but declined to do so on her return, leaving her frustrated and stranded in a wheelchair at the Guangzhou airport. This incident was captured in a video by BONews Service on Dec 5.
“I came to China with my scooter, but to my surprise, the airline said they wouldn’t take it. This is how they treat Nigerians badly,” she said.
Appealing to the government, Arinola urged the aviation minister to intervene and address the challenges faced by Nigerian travellers, especially those with disabilities.
“This is the peak of it. I go through this with Emirates, Turkish Airlines, and others. They all need to be called to order,” she stated, emphasising the need for accessibility and inclusion in air travel.
A recent study highlights a trend of discriminatory practices among air-flight passengers. Over the years, there has been a 54% increase in disability-related complaints between 2019 and 2022. In 2022 alone, 1,394 complaints were filed by passengers with disabilities. Common issues reported were 60% inadequate assistance during boarding and deplaning, 25% damage to or loss of essential mobility devices and 15% accessibility issues with seating arrangements or restrooms, signifying a broader issue of inadequate support for people with disabilities in global aviation.
