There is no doubt that
Nigeria is a thriving market for foreign businesses, and most times, they carry
on their trade without hindrance or proper regulations, probably because the
authorities concerned want to create an enabling environment for their smooth
operation.
However, what has become
a source of concern is the way and manner these foreign companies treat
Nigerians, either working for them or patronizing their goods and services.
This time around, it
involves the British Airways, which is promoting corruption to its very height.
Beth News has reasons to believe that British Airways
seems not to see anything abominable in its activities even if Nigerians who
miss booking their flights or need to meet with their appointments oversea
offer to pay double the airfare to be allowed to board its flight at the
expense of those who cannot afford such. There have been several complaints by
some passengers, but instead of the management of the airline to sanction its
staff or whoever is involved in this criminal act, they seem to turn a blind
eye to it.
Recently about 20
passengers were cheated and treated like church rats at the Murtala
International Airport because some select people could afford the luxury of
doubling their payments.
On a Saturday this May
2015, a Nigerian was said to have booked a British Airways flight for his
mother whom we learnt is above 80 years old. The flight which had 121 seats was
billed to leave the Murtala international airport around 12am. In order to meet
up with the time they both arrived at international airport about 6pm because
of the very old woman whom we gathered had never traveled abroad before. To
ensure a hitch-free travel, even her children had to take casual leave in the
U.S. for them to pick up their mother at the airport.
After waiting endlessly
between 6pm and 11pm at Murtala International Airport for the old woman to
board, they were surprised to discover some prominent people who probably never
earlier booked for the flight just getting to the airport and in less than one
hour securing seats. Later another group of people trooped in; the man thought
they were part of 121 passengers who had to board their flight, until when his
mother’s booking ticket number was called and displayed on the screen as NO
SHOW. This seemed not to pass any message to him inasmuch his mother
who is above 80 years had done the booking a day before the flight schedule.
Just like play it was
announced that the flight was fully booked and ready to go with more than 121
passengers and that 20 among 121 passengers who had booked earlier were to miss
the flight for that day.
The man said he could
not believe his mother would be left out of the flight after they had waited
six hours. He later discovered the set of people together with so called
prominent people in Nigeria all paid huge amount of money in order to go with
the flight that same day. He viewed it as bribe-taking from passengers who were
not earlier booked for the trip. After series of arguments at Murtala
International Airport it was discovered an 80-year-old woman lost her to
another highest bidder among the set of people who came after the 121 seats
were fully booked.
When other passengers
who were affected could not hold their peace any longer knowing fully this
criminal acts like this could never be tolerated in foreign countries
they tried to cause a scene; it was then some airline authority settled 20
passengers affected $250 each with a lot of apologies and promised to
reschedule their flight on Sunday night.
When Beth News
put a call to Nigerian British Embassy on 0120809966 but the number was
not available as at the time of going to press.
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