Margaret Adeyileka, a Nigerian entrepreneur who has lived with a disability for over 20 years, has accused Emirates Airline of discrimination after being denied boarding with her mobility scooter in China.
Adeyileka, who relies on her scooter for mobility, was reportedly traveling from Guangzhou to Lagos via Dubai on Emirates flights EK 363 and EK 783.
At the check-in counter in Guangzhou, she was informed that her scooter would not be permitted on the aircraft, despite having used it on previous trips, SaharaReporters reported Thursday.
Sharing her ordeal, Adeyileka described the experience as deeply distressing and humiliating. “For someone with a disability, a mobility scooter is not just a device — it is an extension of my body and my legs. Being denied the use of it was akin to having my legs taken away,” she said.
She added that Emirates staff showed no empathy or offered any viable alternatives, leaving her stranded at the counter for hours. “Several foreign onlookers expressed disbelief, remarking that such treatment could only happen to an African, as it appeared Emirates Airline had little regard for Nigerians,” she said.
Faced with no other option, Adeyileka said she agreed to board the flight without her scooter but described the process as dehumanizing. “I had to be physically carried onto the aircraft like a child — by three to four adults — because I weighed over 90kg. The humiliation and emotional pain of this experience were unbearable,” she recounted.
The entrepreneur, who plans to arrive in Lagos on Friday, December 6, 2024, has called on Nigerian authorities to hold Emirates and other airlines accountable for discriminatory practices against Nigerians, particularly those with disabilities.
“As a hardworking entrepreneur, I contribute to Nigeria’s economy while empowering others. For the first time in years, I found myself in tears, overwhelmed by the injustice I faced,” she said.
Adeyileka’s appeal, titled “Urgent Appeal: Emirates Airline’s Discriminatory Action Against a Disabled Nigerian Passenger,” calls on media outlets to highlight her story and draw attention to what she describes as a systemic issue affecting Nigerians and persons with disabilities.
“This incident goes beyond personal grievance; it highlights a pattern of discrimination against Nigerians and persons with disabilities. No one should endure such indignity, especially from an airline operating in our country,” she concluded.
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