A Nigerian entrepreneur living with a disability, Margaret Adeyileka, has stated that Emirates Airlines discriminated against her by refusing to board her and her mobility scooter on a
Guangzhou –Lagos flight.
Adeyileka, who has been having the challenge for over two decades, was denied boarding due to her mobility scooter.
Adeyileka said that she was informed by the Emirates staff at the check-in counter in China that her mobility scooter would not be allowed on the aircraft.
She pointed out that the airline denied her boarding despite the fact that she has successfully travelled with the scooter severely .
Adeyileka expressed her pain and humiliation at the experience, adding that the treatment meted out to her did not only stripped her of her dignity but also violated her fundamental rights as a human being.
She called on the Nigerian Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority( NCAA)to hold Emirates Airline and other airlines accountable for their discriminatory actions against Nigerians, most especially those with disabilities.
“I am en route to Lagos from Guangzhou, China, via Dubai on Emirates flight EK 363, connecting to Lagos on EK 783. I was told that my mobility scooter would not be allowed on the aircraft when I approached the Emirates counter in China to board my flight.”
Adeyileka’s ordeal is contained in a message made available to SaharaReporters titled: “Urgent Appeal: Emirates Airline’s Discriminatory Action Against a Disabled Nigerian Passenger,”
In the message, Adeyileka who revealed that she hasn’t walked for over 20 years, said the Emirate airline’s decision was devastating.
“For someone with a disability, a mobility scooter is not just a device — it is an extension of my body and my legs. Being denied the use of it was akin to having my legs taken away,” she lamented. “I was left immobile for hours while Emirates staff displayed a shocking lack of empathy.”
She regretted that despite her repeated pleas, they (Emirate staff) offered no assistance or viable alternatives.
“Several foreign onlookers expressed disbelief, remarking that such treatment could only happen to an African, as it appeared Emirates Airline had little regard for Nigerians. The counter eventually closed, leaving me with an impossible choice: board the flight without my scooter or be stranded in China, where I had no support.
“Out of sheer desperation, I agreed to board the flight. However, I had to be physically carried onto the aircraft like a child — by three to four adults — because I weighed over 90kg. The humiliation and emotional pain of this experience were unbearable,” she added.
She called for accountability, and measures to protect the rights of Nigerians in air travel.
“As a hardworking entrepreneur, I contribute to Nigeria’s economy while empowering others. For the first time in years, I found myself in tears, overwhelmed by the injustice I faced.
“This incident goes beyond personal grievance; it highlights a pattern of discrimination against Nigerians and persons with disabilities. No one should endure such indignity, especially from an airline operating in our country” she said.
Adeyileka, who hopes to arrive Nigeria today, Friday, December 6, 2024, on Emirates EK 783, appealed to Nigerian media platforms, to escalate it her story and shed light on the injustice.
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