A Nigerian entrepreneur and disability advocate, Margaret Arinola Adeyileka, has condemned the discriminatory treatment she received from Emirates Airline in China.
Adeyileka, who has been unable to walk for over 20 years, encountered difficulties when the airline denied her the right to board a flight from Guangzhou to Lagos with her mobility scooter. She explained that Emirates staff at the check-in counter informed her that her scooter would not be permitted on the aircraft, despite her history of traveling with it on numerous occasions.
Expressing her anguish, Adeyileka described the experience as both humiliating and a violation of her basic rights. She urged Nigerian authorities to hold Emirates and other airlines accountable for discriminatory practices, particularly those targeting individuals with disabilities.
“I was traveling to Lagos from Guangzhou, China, via Dubai on Emirates flight EK 363, connecting to Lagos on EK 783,” Adeyileka said. “When I approached the Emirates counter in China, I was told that my mobility scooter would not be allowed on the flight.”
In a statement shared with Chronicles Reporters titled, “Urgent Appeal: Emirates Airline’s Discriminatory Action Against a Disabled Nigerian Passenger,” Adeyileka detailed her ordeal. She emphasized that her scooter is not merely a piece of equipment but an essential extension of her body and independence.
“For someone with a disability, a mobility scooter is like an extension of my body. Denying me the use of it felt like taking away my legs,” she explained. “I was left immobile for hours while Emirates staff demonstrated a shocking lack of empathy.”
Despite her repeated requests, Adeyileka said the airline staff refused to provide assistance or offer any viable alternatives. “Several foreign bystanders were astonished and remarked that such treatment could only happen to an African,” she noted. According to her, the airline appeared to show little regard for Nigerians. Eventually, the counter closed, leaving her with a difficult decision: either board the flight without her scooter or remain stranded in China without support.
Out of desperation, Adeyileka agreed to board. However, she had to be physically carried onto the aircraft by three to four adults due to her weight of over 90kg. She described the ordeal as profoundly humiliating and emotionally devastating.
Calling for accountability, Adeyileka stressed the broader significance of her experience. “As a hardworking entrepreneur contributing to Nigeria’s economy, this incident left me deeply shaken. For the first time in years, I found myself in tears, overwhelmed by the injustice,” she said. “This goes beyond personal grievance; it reflects systemic discrimination against Nigerians and persons with disabilities. No one should endure such indignity from an airline operating in our country.”
Adeyileka, who is expected to arrive in Nigeria on Friday, December 6, 2024, aboard Emirates EK 783, appealed to Chronicles Reporters and other Nigerian media outlets to amplify her story. She hopes this will draw attention to the injustices faced by Nigerians and lead to meaningful action to safeguard the rights of travelers.
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