29th April, 2023
The 2023 governorship candidate of NNPP in Ogun, Olufemi Ajadi, has demanded the sum of N50 million as compensation from Dana Air over the company’s failure to carry out a scheduled flight from Abuja to Lagos on Friday night.
Ajadi, who is also an entrepreneur, in a statement issued on Saturday morning, noted that he alongside other passengers was expected to be airlifted by Dana flight 356, via its aircraft 9J but the aircraft failed to arrive.
The flight was billed to take off by 9:30 pm. The departure time was later extended by fifty minutes yet no aircraft arrived.
Ajadi noted that it was about 12 a.m., that passengers were informed there was no aircraft available.
The politician said no official statement or apology was issued by Dana Air management.
He added that the sad incident made him miss an important business meeting in Abeokuta.
“There was neither a genuine concern nor explanation by the airline management despite the restlessness of the stranded passengers many of who had earlier reassured waiting clients and family members back in Lagos and Abeokuta.”
“This act of negligence and breach of contract has made me unable to meet an important business meeting scheduled for Abeokuta” a livid Ajadi stated.
He said in addition to the business meeting, his workforce was waiting for briefing towards next day production, and his entire household in Abeokuta was all nervous throughout the night.
Ajadi wondered why such an airline could not keep its schedule and abandon passengers without explanation or apology.
He called on the relevant authorities like the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to wade in and ensure the airlines live up to their contractual obligations.
“The maltreatment of Nigerians and other air passengers by these airlines should stop, and I am taking up the matter to serve as a deterrent,” Ajadi said
“We bought tickets well ahead of takeoff time and there was no information from Dana that there was no aircraft to airlift us. Some of us kept reassuring clients and associates in Lagos and Abeokuta that we would soon join them not knowing that Dana’s plea for an extension by 50 minutes was a deceit.
“That was how we kept hoping until 12:00am, that they now informed us that there was no plane to convey us again.
“I have put my trust in Dana Air to fly to Lagos from Abuja to catch up on a business appointment but they disappointed us.
“The Dana Air management not only failed to board us; we were left unattended for hours, making us lose valuable meetings and keeping us out in the dark, stranded, with no food, and worse, making me to lose millions in a contract. This is not acceptable.
“With this, it has breached its duties under the civil aviation Act of 2006, the Warsaw Convention of 1929, and the Montreal Convention of 1999 which are all domesticated and applicable in Nigeria.
“I am demanding fifty million naira (N50,000,000. 00) damages for making me miss the scheduled business meeting in Abeokuta.
“The cost of a ticket may not be much but in this case, the breach of contract is unquantifiable,” Ajadi said.