Sanctions Urged against British Airways for leaving a 'Sultan' behind
Had a good experience in Lagos.
We were flying a B747 transporting the Nigerian National athletics team (including paraplegics) to Cuba.
Parked on the military ramp - everything supervised by Nigerian airline captain and his (rather decent) lady assistant who flew in with us - met by immigration and customs who processed us with speed and efficiency - bus came to aircraft side and we exited straight onto the road via a gate which happened to be on the side of the airport closest to our hotel where - said captain spent the evening buying us drinks (I think he liked our hosties
)
Following morning a bit slow boarding but we were entertained by a demonstration of Air Force tractor training.
Good when you're working for the government
Next visit with ordinary pax - oh dear
We were flying a B747 transporting the Nigerian National athletics team (including paraplegics) to Cuba.
Parked on the military ramp - everything supervised by Nigerian airline captain and his (rather decent) lady assistant who flew in with us - met by immigration and customs who processed us with speed and efficiency - bus came to aircraft side and we exited straight onto the road via a gate which happened to be on the side of the airport closest to our hotel where - said captain spent the evening buying us drinks (I think he liked our hosties
)Following morning a bit slow boarding but we were entertained by a demonstration of Air Force tractor training.
Good when you're working for the government
Next visit with ordinary pax - oh dear
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A good thing to come out of Nigeria as far as I am concerned was heard on the national radio which modelled itself on the BBC World Service, but had not quite grasped the subtleties.
So, instead of saying "It is 12 o'clock Greenwich Mean Time. Here is the news"
the cordial fellow said "It is 12 o'clock Greenwich. Meantime here is the news"
So, instead of saying "It is 12 o'clock Greenwich Mean Time. Here is the news"
the cordial fellow said "It is 12 o'clock Greenwich. Meantime here is the news"
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all of this stuff has nothing to do with colonialism, rather the attitude of the locals that grabbed power afterwards. Nigeria, Zimbabwe - both have an embarassment of natural riches, both utter ****eholes due entirely to the locals, not the British.
However I have spent some time in Accra lately, hardly a million miles from Lagos - also ex colonial, nowhere near as naturally wealthy, but generally a thoroughly nice place in a thoroughly decent country.
There is a limit how long even the PC brigade can blame the empire for all the current
ups.
However I have spent some time in Accra lately, hardly a million miles from Lagos - also ex colonial, nowhere near as naturally wealthy, but generally a thoroughly nice place in a thoroughly decent country.
There is a limit how long even the PC brigade can blame the empire for all the current
ups.
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I think we now know why he didn't take 'local' transportation:
As Sultan of Sokoto, he is considered the spiritual leader of Nigeria's 70 million Muslims, roughly 50 percent of the nation's population.[1] On November 2, 2006, Sa'adu Abubakar succeeded his brother, Mohammadu Maccido, who died on ADC Airlines Flight 53; the flight crashed shortly after takeoff from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and had been destined for Sokoto.
As Sultan of Sokoto, he is considered the spiritual leader of Nigeria's 70 million Muslims, roughly 50 percent of the nation's population.[1] On November 2, 2006, Sa'adu Abubakar succeeded his brother, Mohammadu Maccido, who died on ADC Airlines Flight 53; the flight crashed shortly after takeoff from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and had been destined for Sokoto.
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Lovely post Pilotbear
Nice way to state your opinion PB. You've been there, had experiences and hence are able to provide the undisputed facts on Nigeria. Everyone else, who hasnt been there, can "shut the up".
I think someone else asked if anyone actually knew what happened. Did the Sultan deliberately try and delay the plane to flex his muscles, or was there another more normal reason?
BA did the correct thing (IMO) and off loaded him. His staff did the expected thing and issued statement regarding "disrespectful attitude from BA blah blah".
Who gives a toss in the end, all this storm in a teacup will be forgotten about in a few days.....unless this thread keeps going.
up". I think someone else asked if anyone actually knew what happened. Did the Sultan deliberately try and delay the plane to flex his muscles, or was there another more normal reason?
BA did the correct thing (IMO) and off loaded him. His staff did the expected thing and issued statement regarding "disrespectful attitude from BA blah blah".
Who gives a toss in the end, all this storm in a teacup will be forgotten about in a few days.....unless this thread keeps going.
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I see an opportunity for Virgin Atlantic to start flights out of Abuja, a good PR spin that they will treat all customers with respect ...... even "Royalty".
Better than BA
Perhaps the Sultan would like to contribute to the Wannabees section
Better than BA
Perhaps the Sultan would like to contribute to the Wannabees section
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Let me just make one thing clear here, I'm not excusing this guy's actions - by all accounts he behaved like a prize tit and the BA crew were right to leave, but some of the comments on here were frankly poisonous.
Lagos may be a nightmare route, and some of the people may be rude and boorish, but that doesn't give us the right to tar an entire country full of people with that brush, and we should at least lead by example. That's not PC, it's just common courtesy.
Lagos may be a nightmare route, and some of the people may be rude and boorish, but that doesn't give us the right to tar an entire country full of people with that brush, and we should at least lead by example. That's not PC, it's just common courtesy.
Is it racist to call a spade a spade? BTW can someone from the PC brigade explain why so many African States are still going from bad to worse after fifty years of independence?
Last edited by brakedwell; 16th Aug 2008 at 09:41.
It is racist to call a spade a spade in the context that you were using it. That is the pc world that we live in. If you were talking about garden implements and called a spade a spade, then it wouldn't be. (PaulG) I was trying to point out that seemingly innocuous statements or actions can be taken the wrong way, whether through misunderstanding or through somebody having an agenda. What I wouldn't do is hold myself up as being Mr PC....'cos I'm not. However, I'm not a racist either.
Edited for missing "u"'s on this keyboard
Edited for missing "u"'s on this keyboard
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In this thread I've seen some intriguing but vague references to Ghana, implying that it's a better place to fly into or out of than Nigeria. Can anyone elaborate on the differences? (I'm just curious.)
Had a similar experience, head of state didn't turn up on time and we were prevented from departing without him. Had we got away the consequences of leaving him behind would have been considerable for our traffic rights in one of our more important markets.
Standard protocol was a red carpet arrival at the aircraft with good bye handshakes. As we are a low cost carrier (yes seriously), he should have been in line with his boarding pass ready. We operate on 30min turn arounds.
If you want special treatment there are plenty of executive jets available for charter which will run to your schedule. If travelling on airlines be on time or get left behind. If you can't afford a private aircraft you aren't important enough to delay for.
Standard protocol was a red carpet arrival at the aircraft with good bye handshakes. As we are a low cost carrier (yes seriously), he should have been in line with his boarding pass ready. We operate on 30min turn arounds.
If you want special treatment there are plenty of executive jets available for charter which will run to your schedule. If travelling on airlines be on time or get left behind. If you can't afford a private aircraft you aren't important enough to delay for.
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Unbelievable
A pal knows the BA man in Nigeria - this over reaction beggars belief. These guys are so puffed up with their own importance its ridiculous. Never mind "offloaded VIPS", the Nigerians should busy themselves fixing their ground aids, "recalcitrent" taxiways and general safety instead. That way the incumbent Sultan would probably still be "Sultan in waiting" .. 