The Federal Government has summoned the Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Ashraf Salama, over the ill-treatment meted out on a Nigerian teenager, Master Joshua Kunle Abdulazeez, by Egypt Air.
An official of the airline had torn the teenager’s Nigerian passports in Istanbul, Turkey, while on his way to Ukraine to resume studies as a medical student.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which issued the summons yesterday, demanded an unreserved apology from the Egyptian government.
The Minister of State 1, Foreign Affairs, Viola Onwuliri, also accused Egypt Air of “child-abuse” for starving the young Nigerian of food for three days, after wrongly routing his air ticket.
She said it was unacceptable that Egypt Air had failed to respond to repeated enquiries from the Nigeria Embassy in Cairo on what led to the maltreatment of the Nigerian.
The Nigerian authorities had sought explanation from the airline on reports that the Nigerian passport of the 17-year-old teenager was torn to shreds by a staff of Egypt Air in Istanbul, Turkey.
Ms. Onwuliri expressed dismay that the Egyptian ambassador’s initial reaction to the issue was to question the authenticity of local media reportage on the Nigerian who was treated like “a common criminal” by Egypt Air. – Vanguard.
If they fail to respond with unreserved apology, the next step should be immediate indefinite suspension of Egypt Air from Nigeria airspace.
Not even a flyover should be allowed!