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British Airways Denies Over 50 Passengers from Boarding Abuja to London Flight
There was confusion and anger at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport after more than 50 passengers were stopped from boarding a British Airways flight to London. Many of them had valid tickets and had already checked in, but were told at the gate that there was no space on the aircraft.
The incident has been linked to overbooking, a practice where airlines sell more tickets than available seats in anticipation of no-shows. While it’s common in the aviation industry, it often sparks outrage when paying customers are left stranded. Some passengers described the experience as humiliating, saying there was little explanation from the airline and no immediate assistance provided.
Travel experts note that passengers in such situations may be entitled to compensation and care, especially on long international routes. In Europe, for example, airlines are required to provide meals, hotel accommodation if needed, and financial payouts when passengers are denied boarding without consent. Although Nigeria operates outside the EU, campaigners argue that foreign carriers flying in and out of the country should still respect global standards.
Recently, British Airways has faced growing criticism in Nigeria.
Travellers have raised concerns about repeated delays, sudden cancellations, and what some describe as poor handling of customers. A local law firm even threatened legal action against the airline earlier this year over claims of “inhuman treatment” of Nigerian passengers. The aviation regulator in Abuja has also opened inquiries into the airline’s operations.
Airlines defend overbooking as a way of keeping fares affordable, but for passengers who end up missing flights, the impact can be financially draining and emotionally exhausting. Families miss connections, business travellers lose opportunities, and tourists are left stranded far from their destinations.
For now, the stranded Abuja passengers are demanding answers and proper compensation. The incident has once again raised bigger questions about how international airlines treat Nigerian travellers, and whether regulators need to step in more firmly to protect passenger rights.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid tribute to late Nigerian actor Olu Jacobs, recalling his contributions to the creative industry and his impact on Nigeria’s cultural identity.
In his tribute, Tinubu described Jacobs as a giant of the Nigerian creative industry and said “He was a giant of the Nigerian creative industry. His passing is a great loss to Nigeria, the African film industry and the global community of lovers of the performing arts. His remarkable body of work will continue to speak to generations yet unborn.
“The nation recognises the enormous contributions of Nigeria’s creative practitioners to the country’s cultural identity, global image and economic development. Olu Jacobs played a big role in creating this identity.”
Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency over the proliferation of counterfeit and substandard drugs and consumer products in Nigeria.
Adeyanju also called for the removal of the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, as well as the heads of other regulatory agencies, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
“Nigerians are being exposed to dangerous products daily, from fake and substandard medicines to unsafe consumer goods, with reports of drugs being sold wholesale in the open under the hot sun. No responsible government should expose its citizens to such risks and expect mortality rates not to rise.”
Adeyanju also called out NAFDAC over what he described as failures in regulating the circulation of counterfeit and substandard products in the country.
It can be noted that various counterfeit products continue to circulate in Nigerian markets, while NAFDAC has also reported seizures and destruction of counterfeit, expired and substandard products.
Lagosians have lamented heavy traffic caused by ongoing construction work at Kara Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The Federal Government announced that repairs on the damaged expansion joints at Kara Bridge would begin on September 8, 2026. The project, initially scheduled to begin in August, was delayed to allow further traffic management planning due to concerns over its impact on motorists.
Since work began, traffic around the Kara area has become heavy, with Lagosians sharing updates on social media about spending two hours or more on the road.
Some commuters say the delays have made their 9-to-5 routines difficult, with several hours spent travelling to and from work.
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