A Lagos-bound passenger, identified simply as Mama Tobi, has slumped and died while waiting to board her flight at the Abuja airport.
The unfortunate incident occurred on Tuesday, April 19, at the domestic wing of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.
The deceased, who is reportedly diabetic, slumped in the boarding area for her flight to Lagos as a result of high blood pressure, and it is alleged that there were no medical personnel on ground to attended to her.
A lawyer who was present at the time of the incident, took to Facebook to disclose that the woman died in his hands and blamed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for her death.
Taking to social media, the lawyer, Felix Ashimole wrote,
“Where is the money they claim was sunk into renovating the airport into world standard? For 13 minutes, no FAAN medical personnel. She died in my hands and few others. A medical doctor on his way to Kano tried but as he finally said, “we lost her.
But she would’ve been saved, had FAAN provided basic insulin. She was diabetic. Her sugar went high; She entered coma; No medical attention; She saw the light and moved towards it. We kept calling her, Mama Tobi, Mama Tobi, don’t leave us, wake up, Good morning but saliva trickled down, foams bubbled and I knew she had seen a better place and wouldn’t be coming back!
“FAAN and the entire airline staff on ground were stupidly acting as if è no concern them. They kept announcing boarding and NEVER USED their speaker to ask if there is any medical personnel on ground. Finally they brought an ambulance from their fire fighting department, to take her corpse away! Good night Mummy Tobi. Your country and countrymen, failed you.”
It was gathered that the corpse of the woman was taken to the NAF Medical Centre located at the airport.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of FAAN, Faithful Hope-Ivbaze, denied reports that FAAN didn’t respond swiftly to help the woman.
“Our doctors were there. We are not happy it happened. We regret it happened but God knows the best in every situation.” she said.
She went on to sympathize with the family of the deceased and prayed that that God grants them the fortitude to bear the loss.
