Saudi Airlines Abandon Kano-Bound Passengers in Abuja

Saudi Airlines has come under heavy criticism after abandoning 401 Kano-bound passengers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, for nearly 48 hours, a situation that sparked tension and raised serious security concerns.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed that bad weather in Kano initially forced the Saudi Airlines flight to divert to Abuja. However, the regulator faulted the airline for failing to make adequate arrangements to convey the passengers to their final destination.

The development was disclosed in a statement posted on Monday by the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr Michael Achimugu, on his verified X handle, where he revealed that he personally intervened to de-escalate the crisis.

Achimugu described the incident as one of the most intense moments of his professional career.

“Yesterday, I had to make a U-turn while heading to my barber’s shop after receiving reports of a valid threat of extreme violence from stranded Saudi Airlines passengers in Abuja,” Achimugu said.

According to him, several other airlines were also affected by the same weather conditions and diverted their flights to Abuja. However, while those airlines made alternative arrangements for their passengers, Saudi Airlines reportedly returned to its base without ensuring that its passengers reached Kano.

Achimugu said he found himself surrounded by hundreds of angry and frustrated passengers who had been left without clear information on when or how they would continue their journey.

“I stood amidst over 200 angry passengers, pacifying, reprimanding and resolving. This is the most adrenaline-rushing part of my job. It requires tact, firmness, wisdom and teamwork. But it is risky. Some passengers are extremely violent,” he said.

He further disclosed that the situation escalated at a point when one of the passengers threatened to physically assault him.

The statement added
“I looked at him. Initially, I was angry. But I saw the worry in his eyes and decided to handle him differently. We ended up talking. We became best friends. He even invited me to his Lagos residence.”

While acknowledging that Saudi Airlines does not have an operational base in Abuja—an issue that complicated logistics—the NCAA maintained that the situation could have been handled in a far more professional manner.

Achimugu also disclosed that he later met with the Saudi Ambassador to Nigeria, where he stressed that compliance with Nigeria’s consumer protection regulations was non-negotiable for any airline operating in the country.

He commended the intervention of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), particularly the Regional General Manager, noting that the stranded passengers were eventually airlifted to Kano in batches by UMZA Aviation.

According to him, the first aircraft departed Abuja for Kano with 74 passengers and four crew members, the second conveyed 73 passengers and four crew members, while the third and final flight transported 34 passengers.

“In total, 189 passengers were successfully transported to Kano,” he stated.
The NCAA further revealed that Saudi Airlines has committed to compensating the affected passengers.

“This brings to an end a disruption of almost 48 hours that began as force majeure, transitioned into poor passenger handling, and ended with a strong display of effective teamwork, from the Minister to the DGCA and down to our hardworking Consumer Protection Officers,” Achimugu said.

Efforts to obtain a response from Saudi Airlines were unsuccessful, as the airline is neither domiciled in Nigeria nor operates an information office in the country. Emails sent to the airline by our correspondent had not been replied to as of the time of filing this report.