Nigeria summoned the Egyptian ambassador Thursday to protest the maltreatment of a 17-year-old Nigerian by Egypt’s national carrier, Egypt Air.

The foreign ministry summoned the Egyptian ambassador, Ashraf Salama, to formally lodge a protest over the treatment meted out to Joshua Abdul-Azeez, and demanded an unreserved apology from the Egyptian Government.

The Minister of State 1, Foreign Affairs, Viola Onwuliri, accused Egypt Air of “child-abuse” for starving the young Nigerian of food for three days, after wrongly routing his air ticket.

She said it was unacceptable that Egypt Air had failed to respond to repeated enquiries from the Nigeria Embassy in Cairo on what led to the treatment of the Nigerian.

The Nigerian authorities had sought explanation from the airline on reports that the Nigerian passport of the 17-year-old Nigerian was torn to shreds by a staff of Egypt Air in Istanbul, Turkey.

Ms. Onwuliri expressed dismay that the Egyptian ambassador’s initial reaction to the issue was to question the authenticity of local media reportage on the Nigerian who was treated like “a common criminal’’ by Egypt Air.

“Egypt and Nigeria are friendly countries and they have built this friendship over the years, but I don’t think we should allow things like this to happen,” she said.

“You (the ambassador) are worried about four pages of newspaper report on the issue, but I am surprised that you are not worried that a Nigerian passport was torn by an official of Egypt Air.

“I am surprised that you are not worried that a young boy, a Nigerian citizen, was left without food and water by an airline operated by your government.

“I am really surprised at you Mr. Ambassador,’’ she said.

The minister told the ambassador that the Nigerian government would not hesitate to demand compensation for the citizen when it concludes investigation on the matter.

“One Nigerian citizen is important to us and part of our multi-track diplomacy is that every Nigeria everywhere must be fully accounted for.

“The young boy in questions was going back to school in Ukraine and he complained here that he was issued the wrong ticket.

“Did you (Egypt Air) employ people who cannot read tickets and issue correct codes even after complaints,’’ she said.

The minister therefore demanded a formal explanation from the Egyptian government, which had 100 per cent control of Egypt Air.

In his defence, the Egyptian ambassador earlier blamed the Nigerian media for escalating a “small incident’’ involving a Nigerian passenger and Egypt Air.

Mr. Salama said that a Nigerian newspaper devoted four-pages to the issue.

He said the embassy had contacted Egypt Air and his home government on the incident but had yet to receive a formal report.

“We have respect for our Nigerian brothers and if this incident really happened, we will see who is responsible and punish accordingly.

“But we must taste and verify the credibility of the news report on the issue before we make a judgment,’’ he said.

Mr. Salama called for restraint from the Nigerian authorities on the issue, saying “I do not think this incident should escalate so much to affect our good relations built over the years.

“We have been supporting and standing by each other and I think we should continue that way,’’ he said.

He told the foreign minister that so many Nigerians travel to Egypt every day, adding “we have 16 flights daily and seven daily flights from Cairo to Abuja.’’



https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/168325-nigeria-summons-egyptian-ambassador-demands-apology-over-maltreatment-of-teenager.html#sthash.b12DIhZJ.dpbs

For an Egyptian official to find it convenient to tear a Nigerian Passport is proof of how much respect they have for us. And then to push that small boy to the very edge of humanity because he is Nigerian really got to me. The Nigerian Government need to make a very bold statement here. Shameless Egyptians and their useless ambassador. I feel like slapping somebody.

...

Its about time!!

Dymondgurl: Its about time!!

to kiss?

Unibenstudent: to kiss?

oh u wish! Its about time for some action from d nigerian government of course.

Dymondgurl: oh u wish! Its about time for some action from d nigerian government of course.

nigeria is a stagnant country ,everything is a lie,propaganda is everything nigeria leaders knows

I like d way Onwuliri presented d mata wit boldness on every line of ha speech. And BTW y re dis guys complaining of how serious our media houses tuk dis, re we suppose to be dumb over it?

Let wait and see what the outcome will be

..........the dawn is near........

LET us wait and see

.

Good cause this little boy really passed through a lot.

An apology is not enough, IMO.

Hmmm

We must commend Madame Viola for that strong. stand and i support that the boy be giving full compensation.Let s get it to a fruitful end

Blackchampion: .

searay: .

excelway: ...

CHAI.. as at 4.58am. The struggle to make front page is real !

It is well

I am happy that the Nigerian Government is stamping their feet down on this and greatly happy too that the media is making a mince of the Egyptians.
Nigerians has to be treated fairly and each individual solely on his merits and woes alike.
Good one by the Nigerian Government.

They must pay damages... At least a million dollar...
Those Egyptian mummies are really DUMBOS for tearing our national document....

Just send the whole lot of them out of Nigeria. The Egyptians are some useless pack of arrogant and stubborn people, just like in the days of Moses

kibo:





CHAI.. as at 4.58am. The struggle to make front page is real !

Aluta continua
Victoria aceta

This is one thing I like about good luck tenure, every sector is working ,this people should pay huge damage s to family of the guy and with huge file to fg nonsense

Action speaks louder than Voice they say!!! Action speaks louder than Voice they say!!!

Na the plane wey carry am be dat?

Maybe that is a good bold step..

Cruel fiful

This is how they are everywhere you go. Not just Egyptians, carribbeans, Indians, pakis, Latinos etc.

Scallywags, thinking they are better than us Nigerians.

People went to war over issues that were not as big as this. This people should be made to understand the magnitude of their deeds the culprits brought to book and properly punished. That boy don hammer after him praying and fasting for three days.

Naija!!! That summon na just public stunt. We no go hear the outcome

If it were to be an American citizen that such a crime against humanity was meted on won't the report by the Egyptian ambassador be ready since, this issue is more that a week old with all evidence at their disposal , from torn passport, video on plane and airport showing clearly the crime against humanity. Well this is Nigeria were we are treated like third class citizen worldwide because of the few bad eggs that constantly make a fool of themselves anywhere they go and our politicians who never fail in showing the world how corrupt they are.
Nigerian are not drafts we are a people of high intellectual capacity, with full awareness, packaged with adaptably of the environment we are in, we are first class citizens with high moral value and a beautiful cultural heritage. And we all will stand against injustice meted at any of us because we are highly accommodating and expect such when we are in a foreign land.