Olanrewaju Oladosun, an aide to Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun on disability matters, has accused a Nigerian airline, Green Africa Airways, of discrimination against persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Mr Oladosun alleged in a viral video released on social media on Tuesday that the airline, which prides itself on offering safe, reliable, and affordable air travel, denied him boarding on its flight from Akure, Ondo’s capital city, to Abuja due to his disability.
The governor’s aide, who spoke bitterly in the four-minute video, said he was in a wheelchair at the Akure Local Airport and expected to board a Green Africa Airways flight for a programme in Abuja but was denied boarding because of his disability.
“I went to board Green Africa Airways from Akure, [Ondo] state to Abuja for a programme for persons with disabilities, but the problem I encountered was that Green Africa Airways Limited management told me that they could not fly me because of my wheelchair,” Mr Oladosun revealed.
“We had to struggle with them, citing that our former president, Muhammadu Buhari, has approved the national disability law, making accessibility paramount for all transport or airline services.”
He noted that the airline’s action made him depressed, stressing that he had to query the attitude and action of the Nigerian airline for disallowing him to board their aeroplane.
Acknowledging the Nigerian airline’s insensitivity to PWDs, Mr Oladosun disclosed that he was ‘forced’ to board another airline, Overland Airways, after his initial entreaty failed.
“The day the incident happened, I was so depressed, but we thank God I later booked Overland Airline that took me to Abuja for the programme,” he added.
According to him, Green Africa Airways had earlier assured him of wheelchair accessibility with the boarding ticket, but it later ended up being a lie.
He said, “I tried to explain to them (Green Africa) why they allowed me to book their flight when they knew they couldn’t take me with my condition.
“The attitude of Green Africa Airways Limited is not friendly. It’s not just because they said they cannot take wheelchairs; it’s also evident in how they treat persons with disabilities.”
Efforts by Peoples Gazette to get the reaction of the management of Green Africa Airways Limited proved abortive.
However, a staff member of the airline at the Akure Local Airport, who pleaded not to be mentioned, told our reporter that the organisation was preparing its side of the allegation.
“We have seen the video, but I can’t respond. The head office is currently taking a position on this and I know they will respond soonest,” he said.
In 2019, Nigeria’s immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 – legislation that criminalises discrimination against PWDs in the country.
The law came after major attacks and discrimination against citizens with disabilities, with several accusations and advocacy by rights activists that the government was not doing enough to protect PWDs.
The law specifically prohibits discrimination against persons with impairments and provides for the imposition of fines for corporate bodies and an imprisonment term for individuals found guilty of any form of discrimination.
According to the legislation, all public organisations are mandated to reserve 5% of employment opportunities for PWDs, while section 31 of the law also provides for the establishment of a National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, which is to be headed by an executive secretary.
