Green Africa has apologised and made a full ticket refund to Olarewaju Isaiah Oladosu, the Special Assistant to the Osun State Governor on Disabilities, who was denied boarding on June 26.

The airline, in an apology shared via its X handle on Wednesday, stated that it had denied Oladosu boarding solely based on the kind of aircraft it currently operates.

It added that this constraint has limited its services to passengers requiring special assistance.

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“We deeply empathise with Mr. Olanrewaju Oladosu’s experience on June 26th, which was due to circumstances beyond our control,” the airline’s statement reads.

“Unfortunately, due to the constraints of the aircraft type that we currently operate, we are only able to offer limited services to customers requiring special assistance.

“This is why, during the booking process, we request customers with reduced mobility to contact us ahead of their intended flights so we can provide the best support and advice. We have fully refunded the unused ticket.”

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FIJ reported on July 3 how Oladosu, who was to attend a two-day event organised by the Center for Ability, Rehabilitation and Empowerment (CARE) in Abuja, was denied boarding by the airline.

For this trip, the special assistant did not only book a round ticket but his two-page flight ticket obtained by FIJ also specified that the airline had a wheelchair ramp to enable him to board a plane without difficulty.

“My details on the flight ticket had indicated my condition and the kinds of special services I would require. In fact, the ticket was booked because the company had said they had provisions for persons with special conditions,” Oladosu told FIJ.

“I was demoralised when I got to the airport with my friends from Ekiti and Ondo State, who were also attending a 2-day policy-making event, and the airline’s boarding officials told me there was no infrastructure for me to board the plane.

“Not only did they deny me access, but their behaviour towards me and other persons with disabilities was discriminatory. The appeal by Mohammed Abba Isa, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Disability Matters, and my counterparts from Ondo and Ekiti for the management to make available a wheelchair ramp yielded no change.

“I had never been that discriminated against. They did not treat me and others with respect. In protest, my colleagues said they would cancel their trip because of the occurrence. Our request for a refund of our flight fares was declined, and we later resolved that my colleagues should proceed on the trip. As for me, I ended up travelling with Overland Airways at my personal cost on the same day.

“I believe Green Africa has a policy that discriminates against persons with disabilities in wheelchairs.”

FIJ understands that this was not Green Africa’s first discrimination against PWDs.