The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) announced that the disruptive French passenger who was caught without a Nigerian visa had been sedated and returned to France.
Recall that there was a scuffle at the airport on Tuesday when the passenger was bounced by airline’s officials.
The passenger, according to Punch, flew into the country through Air France but was denied entry after he was discovered to have visited without a visa.
The unnamed passenger caused security and diplomatic concerns at the airport, forcing immigration officers to deboard him from an Air France flight and restricting his access to the boarding area over his unruly behaviour.
Spokesman for the NCAA, Mr Michael Achimugu said on his X handle that the passenger’s disruptive behaviour in the aircraft was a safety risk for other passengers.
“Immigration officials had quite a hectic time handling the erratic passenger, who could be seen littering our clean terminal with what seems to be tissue paper and screaming, ‘My passport, my passport.’
“Being a French national, he was visited by staff of the French Embassy and a doctor and then granted accommodation in the hotel within the airport terminal,” Achimugu wrote.
Giving an update on the incident, Achimugu said posted on his X on Friday that passenger was airlifted to France on Thursday night after being examined by a medical doctor and placed on sedative.
“Examined by a doctor and placed on a sedative, the unruly French national has finally boarded an Air France flight to CDG, Paris.
I was physically present to witness his boarding at 10 pm on Thursday, along with the very capable terminal head, Miriam Anosike who did a yeoman’s job in this case, Ifueko Abdulmalik, and gallant men of the Nigeria Immigration Service.
“I must mention that the Immigration Commander at the airport, Mr. Agada, was very cooperative. His willingness to collaborate was the glue that held all of this together.”
“We advised the airline to let the cabin crew have some of the administered sedatives in case the passenger displays any disruptive behaviour during the course of the flight.
“Kudos to both the NCAA, Nigeria Immigration Service and the Air France station manager who did an amazing job of attending to the passengers,” Achimugu wrote.
