Nigerians have begun to campaign for the boycott of British Airways (BA) flights following the shabby treatment of Nigerians on the flight by the airline’s officials and the police.

With effect from 15 May this year, Nigerians have been called upon not to board any British Airways flight again. A group, Respect Nigerians Coalition (RNC), comprising organisations and persons, is spearheading the groundswell of protest against British Airways after the 27 March, 2008 incident in which a Nigerian, Mr. Ayodeji Omitade, was arrested. The incident involving Omotade was sparked off when the airline’s staff and immigration officers tried to force Augustine Eme, a MASSOB member who was being deported, to stay on board a British Airways Lagos-bound flight against his will. It was when Omotade intervened on Eme’s behalf that he was arrested. Protest by 135 passengers, most of them Nigerians, on board the BA075 flight bound for Lagos, led to their eviction from the plane as well. This prompted RNC to issue an ultimatum to British Airways to apologise to the victims and lift the ban on Omotade. Failure of BA to meet the group’s demand led to the campaign for the total boycott of all BA flights.

The group in a statement said: “On Thursday, 27 March 2008, British Airways officials and the police subjected Mr Ayodeji Omotade to degrading treatment and went further to eject the other 135 passengers (overwhelmingly Nigerians) from BA075 flight bound for Lagos, Nigeria from London Heathrow Airport. “On Tuesday, April 15, 2008, we made five specific demands on British Airways over this issue

and asked that they address these before Wednesday, April 30, 2008. We asked British Airways to: Tender a clear and well-worded apology to all passengers affected by their discriminatory and intimidatory conduct aboard flight BA075 on 27 March, 2008 in a Nigerian national newspaper; tender a clear and well-worded written apology and appropriate compensation to Mr Ayodeji Omotade for financial and emotional losses suffered as a result of the conduct of British Airways and its agents on the day; withdraw all adverse statements made to the police about Mr. Ayodeji Omotade over this incident; lift the ban imposed on Mr. Ayodeji Omotade, even as he would still retain his right to decide whether or not to fly British Airways in the future, and issue an undertaking that British Airways shall improve its customer care culture and desist from such practices that give the impression that the airline is arrogant, uncaring and discriminatory. “So far, British Airways has failed to do any of the above or give any indication of its intention to do any of the above. The terrible statements its faceless officials have been making in the press over this issue, both in the United Kingdom and Nigeria, attest to the unwillingness of those who run the airline to see reason. In the face of British Airways’ stonewalling, it is therefore our intention to now inform you of our next line of action. We members of the Respect Nigeria Coalition (RNC) have resolved to officially commence the worldwide boycott of British Airways goods and services as from Thursday, 15 May, 2008.

“We are calling on every Nigerian and friends of Nigeria, every person who loves justice and fairness and every person who has a social conscience to vote against British Airways with the power of their purse. We are calling on people to educate British Airways on the virtues of good corporate citizenship. Nigerians and friends of Nigeria all over the world will continue to sign the Petition/Protest Letter posted on our two websites -www.nigeriavillagesquare and www.respectnigerians.com as long as the protest continues.

“We recognise the concern showed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and the Nigerian Federal Government over this issue. We are aware that discussions are ongoing between agents of the Federal Government and British Airways, the details of which are unknown to us at this time. But we are not waiting for the Federal Government to teach British Airways that the customer is king. They will find that out as they continue to test our resolve, because we are absolutely determined to prove that it’s possible for people’s power to trounce corporate tyranny.”

The statement was signed by Kennedy Emetulu, Michael Egbejumi-David, Tosin Awotesu (For and on behalf of Respect Nigerians Coalition); Pius Adesanmi, Ph.D., Associate Professor Director, Project on New African Literatures (PONAL) Department of English Carleton University Ottawa, Canada. Following the incident, a Senior BA pilot exposed the shocking cockpit culture of Britain’s flag carrier. According to the Independent on Sunday, Captain Doug Maughan, who has 28 years of flying experience, including 15 years with BA, says derogatory remarks about race by his colleagues are so common they are treated as normal. There are indications that the move by Nigerians against the BA will hurt the airline’s operations badly. British Airways carries 36 million passengers a year and operates out of airports in every continent.




http://thepmnews.com/2008/05/11/nigerians-move-against-british-airways


Men I support this move infact I'm signing the petition right away.

I don't think British Airways gives a dunkin doughnut or a crispy creme.  As you can see, hear, feel or smell. . . .they have moved their business to Ghana and to hell with all of you.

Go and get your own airlines instead of wasting your energy on some "jomgba" style "boycotts".  Are you not tired of this story?  People who want to boycott do so quietly, not with all these "noiseless sounds"!

Boycott if you want to boycott abeg! Make we see road!

Ah!


Everywhere, British Airways this, British Airways that! Please go and boycott and let us hear word! Other things are happening in the world than "shameless deportees" of Nigerians and British Airways!

I am not flying BA again!

Truequest:

The incident involving Omotade was sparked off when the airline’s staff and immigration officers tried to force Augustine Eme, a MASSOB member who was being deported, to stay on board a British Airways Lagos-bound flight against his will. It was when Omotade intervened on Eme’s behalf that he was arrested.

'Tried to force a deportee aboard an airplane against his will'? What the Bleep is this shit?! Are the british police supposed to throw their hands up in despair because an unwilling deportee refuses to get on a plane?

Handcuffing deportees is standard operating procedure in most countries. Pity many Nigerians here allow their emotions get the better of them.