Saudi Airlines has come under criticism after abandoning 401 Kano-bound passengers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, for close to 48 hours, triggering tension and security concerns.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that bad weather in Kano forced the airline to divert to Abuja but said it failed to make adequate arrangements for the passengers’ onward journey to their final destination.
This was disclosed in a statement posted by NCAA’s spokesperson, Mr Michael Achimugu, on his verified X handle on Monday, in which he said he was at the centre of efforts to de-escalate the crisis.
He described the situation as one of the most intense moments of his professional life.
“Yesterday, I had to make a U-turn while heading to my barber’s shop after receiving reports of a valid threat of extreme violence from stranded Saudi Airlines passengers in Abuja,” Achimugu said.
According to him, other airlines had also diverted to Abuja for the same weather-related reason, but while they made alternative arrangements for their passengers, Saudi Airlines returned to its base without ensuring that its passengers reached their final destination.
Achimugu recounted standing amid more than 200 visibly angry passengers, many of whom had spent hours without clarity on when or how they would reach Kano.
“I stood amidst over 200 angry passengers, pacifying, reprimanding and resolving. This is the most adrenaline-rushing part of my job. It requires tact, firmness, wisdom and teamwork. But it is risky. Some passengers are extremely violent,” he said.
In one particularly tense moment, Achimugu said an angry passenger threatened to assault him.
The statement added, “I looked at him. Initially, I was angry. But I saw the worry in his eyes and decided to handle him differently. We ended up talking. We became best friends. He even invited me to his Lagos residence.”
While acknowledging that Saudi Airlines does not have an operational base in Abuja—a factor that complicated logistics—the NCAA maintained that the situation could have been handled more professionally.
Achimugu disclosed that he later met with the Saudi Ambassador to Nigeria, where he made it clear that no airline would be allowed to operate in Nigeria regardless of the country’s consumer protection regulations.
While commending the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria’s Regional General Manager, Achimugu added that the stranded passengers were eventually airlifted in batches in three flights by UMZA.
“The first aircraft departed Abuja for Kano with 74 passengers and four crew members. The second carried 73 passengers and four crew members.
“The third and final flight conveyed 34 passengers. In total, 189 passengers were successfully transported to Kano,” he stated.
Saudi Airlines, according to the NCAA, has committed to compensating the affected passengers.
“This brings to an end a disruption of almost 48 hours that began as force majeure, transitioned into poor passenger handling, and ended with a strong display of effective teamwork, from the Minister to the DGCA and down to our hardworking Consumer Protection Officers,” Achimugu said.
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