Tears As Airline Discriminates Against Disabled Nigerian Female Passenger, Refuses To Board Her
A Nigerian entrepreneur living with a disability, Margaret Arinola Adeyileka, has spoken out against the Emirates Airline’s discriminatory treatment in China.
Adeyileka, who has been unable to walk for over 20 years, was denied boarding on a flight from Guangzhou to Lagos State due to her mobility scooter.
According to Adeyileka, 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.
The decision was made despite her having successfully travelled with the scooter on numerous occasions.
Adeyileka has expressed her distress and humiliation at the experience, stating that it not only stripped her of her dignity but also violated her fundamental rights.
She is calling on the Nigerian authorities to hold Emirates Airline and other airlines accountable for their discriminatory actions against Nigerians, particularly those with disabilities.
According to her, “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.”
In a message made available to SaharaReporters titled: “Urgent Appeal: Emirates Airline’s Discriminatory Action Against a Disabled Nigerian Passenger,” 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.
She added, “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.”
Calling for accountability, and measures to protect the rights of Nigerians in air travel, she said: “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.”
Adeyileka, who hopes to arrive Nigeria on Friday, December 6, 2024, on Emirates EK 783, appealed to SaharaReporters and other Nigerian media platforms, to amplify her story and shed light on the injustice.
