By Chuks Okoh
The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Company (NDDC), Mr. Dan Abia severally slapped Idris Bashir, a Consumer Protection Officer of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) attached to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja .
Earlier, the Security detail attached to the NDDC boss, Police Corporal Califonia with service no. 382079 with a gun descended on Mr. Joseph Nkayuk, an Arik staff at the Abuja Airport.
A press statement issued by Mr Sam Adurogboye, deputy general manager media, NCAA said Joseph’s offence was that upon the arrival of Arik Flight W3 258 from Port Harcourt on the 26th May, 2014, he had the temerity to deny not only the detail but all passengers who wanted to pick up their checked – in – bags at the tarmac, insisting that they should proceed to the arrival hall to claim their bags.
The regulatory authority said the Arik staff who was following the Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs) eventually discovered that the Mr Abia’s bag has been erroneously reloaded on to another Arik flight by another handler and unfortunately the service had departed.
Mr. Joseph Nkayuk therefore went the NDDC Boss to explain the mix up and promptly the Police orderly pulled out his gun and threatened to shoot while he rained slaps and punches on Joseph.
Adurogboye explained that In the midst of this pandemonium, the NCAA’s Consumer Protection Officer Idris Bashir, who was on the beat at that time had to intervene tried to calm frayed nerves. He assured Mr. Abia that he would ensure the bag was retrieved.
After investigation, Idris came back to inform the MD NDDC that the bag had indeed been mistakenly reloaded to another destination and would soon be brought back and handed over to him.
This response irked Mr. Abia who administered series of slaps on the defenceless NCAA staff ,claiming he had done nothing.
Adurogboye added that while the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) was looking into these reports, NCAA would want to reiterate that passenger belligerence and violence are certainly against aviation regulations and would attract appropriate sanctions. Passengers are therefore advised to desist from such acts and instead forward a formal report to the Authority and such complaints will receive prompt attention.
The NCAA statement did not indicate whether the bag has indeed been found and given back to the MD NDDC.
