Stories are rife about how some foreign airlines maltreat passengers with the Nigerian passport.
Many Nigerian travellers have alleged that some foreign airlines that operate into the country treat them with disdain because they carry Nigeria’s green passport.
A recent incidence showed how a Nigerian lady did a video to narrate how she was treated by Turkish Airlines. Although she did not state her name in the video but she narrated her awful experience with the airline because she has the Nigerian passport.
Her narrative, however, tallied with what many others have complained about Turkish Airlines and other international carriers in the past.
Narrating her story, the Nigerian woman said: “So, this is one of those times where travel is not all fun and games. I am at Istanbul right now. And I have a 22 hours layover here in Istanbul. Now before this ticket was booked, it was clearly stated on their website that Nigeria is listed among the countries that get hotel accommodation, if passengers have a 21-hour layover. So you get an option of a hotel or you get an option of a tour package, a free tour package, both sponsored by Turkish Airlines. I got here today and went to the help desk and they say because of my nationality, my Nigerian passport basically, I don’t have access to going into Istanbul.
“For me, it would have to be a consulate visa, not a visa that you can get here at the airport or anything like that. Now, none of this was stated on their website for stopovers. I showed up here this morning and in not so many words, they told me there is absolutely nothing they can do about it. My passport is Nigerian. Oh, they offered me a meal ticket. And that is pretty much the best they can do. A meal ticket and then I have to sit here and wait for 21 hours at the airport. This makes me feel really bad. The staff here are just doing their job, basically. “What they were told is what they are doing. How did we get here? Like, how did we get here? Where our passport is at the point where other people gain free access, free stuff, they get a free hotel, free everything and then my Nigeria passport basically keeps me sitting in the airport for 21 hours. Who are the people in charge of negotiating these things? Is there any government agency in Nigeria who is in charge of making sure that Nigerians are not marginalised like this when they are traveling? Like who are we supposed to talk to in Nigeria? Who is supposed to speak to Turkish Airlines to say if you keep in the airport for 21 hours, what provisions have you made for them?”
She emphasised that there is a hotel at the airport, which if the airline did not want passengers that have Nigerian passport to go to town, they can keep them in the hotels at the airport, but the airline disdainfully refused to accommodate her because she has a Nigerian passport.
“As a matter of fact, this airport has a hotel in it, but Turkish Airlines has no provision to keep Nigerian citizens in the hotel here. However, for any other person, I mean other nationalities, they get to go to a hotel for free or they get a tour package for free. Who is in charge of negotiating these deals? I will ask again. Why are we being sold tickets without an option? Like, how did we get here? I have spoken all the words I possibly can. I have said everything that is necessary to be said here, but it will seem their hands are tied. And right now, they are trying to see if there is a possibility of taking me to the business class lounge, and that is the very best they can do for me today.
