By Temi Olowu
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Festus Keyamo, has expressed outrage over the alleged mistreatment of Nigerian passengers by Royal Air Maroc after an emergency landing in Marrakesh, Morocco.
In a post shared on his X (formerly Twitter) platform on Friday, Keyamo stated that the airline left passengers stranded at the Marrakesh terminal without food, proper shelter, or care, with women and children forced to sleep on the floor.
The incident occurred after a Royal Air Maroc flight, initially bound for Abuja, Nigeria, from Casablanca, was diverted to Marrakesh due to technical issues. Keyamo noted that the majority of the passengers affected were Nigerians.
He called on Royal Air Maroc to “immediately remedy the situation” and announced that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had been directed to intervene.
“I have just been informed of the inhuman treatment some Nigerians have been subjected to by Royal Air Maroc in Marrakesh, Morocco.
“My information is that the flight took off from Casablanca and was headed for Abuja, but had to make an emergency landing in Marrakesh for some technical reasons,” Keyamo wrote.
“However, the passengers, majority of whom are Nigerians, have been left without care at the terminal and without food and decent shelter, with women and children sleeping on the floor,” Keyamo wrote on his X handle on Friday.
The Minister’s statement underscored Nigeria’s growing frustration with foreign airlines over service standards and passenger care, particularly during disruptions.
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The Consumer Protection Department of the NCAA has been instructed to engage with Royal Air Maroc’s Nigerian branch to ensure that immediate relief is provided to the stranded passengers.
Background and Trends
Airline service disruptions, particularly for Nigerian passengers on international flights, have been a recurring issue. Delays, poor customer service, and lack of care during flight cancellations or emergency landings have often drawn criticism.
The current incident with Royal Air Maroc highlights the increasing demand for accountability from foreign airlines operating in Africa.
Royal Air Maroc, Morocco’s national carrier, has traditionally been a significant player in the West African aviation market, offering transit connections between Europe and sub-Saharan Africa.
However, it has faced scrutiny over its customer service, particularly in handling emergencies. This latest development comes as the global aviation industry grapples with post-pandemic recovery challenges, including staff shortages and operational disruptions.
Investigations and Regulatory Pressure
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has been stepping up its oversight of foreign carriers to ensure compliance with international standards, particularly in passenger rights protection.
With Keyamo’s directive, the NCAA is expected to conduct a thorough investigation into the Marrakesh incident. The regulator will likely assess whether Royal Air Maroc followed the required protocols for passenger care during emergencies, including providing food, accommodation, and necessary assistance.
This investigation also ties into broader trends within the African aviation sector, where there is a growing push for higher standards of service and more stringent enforcement of passenger rights.
As African countries continue to develop their aviation infrastructure, regulators like the NCAA are expected to increase scrutiny of both local and foreign airlines.
(Edited by Oludare Mayowa; omayowa@globalfinancialdigest.com; Newsroom: +234 8033 964 138)
