Passenger Collapses, Dies At Lagos Airport

An intending passenger collapsed and died yesterday while waiting to collect the Yellow Card from Port Health officials at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos.

This happened when the new Minister of Aviation, Mr Osita Chidoka, was on facility tour of the airport. It’s the minister’s first official visit to Lagos since assuming office.

The dead man, Akunne Osei, Vanguard gathered, was a Nigerian who resided in Accra. He arrived Lagos for business transactions aboard an Arik Air flight on Friday, August 8, 2014 and was on his way back to Accra for medical treatment.

Speaking on the death of the passenger, General Manager, Corporate Communication, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Mr Yakubu Dati, said: “The passenger, Mr. Akunne Osei, took ill on Saturday, August 9 and started stooling. When the situation got worse, he called his doctor in Accra who instructed him to return to Ghana immediately for further treatment.

“During boarding formalities for his return trip to Accra, at the MMIA, Mr. Osei, who had become weak was subjected to Ebola virus test by port health officials, the result of which was negative.

“No further attention was paid to him after his Ebola virus result read negative but the passenger later slumped and died around the port health office.”

The sister of the dead man was seen crying, saying:“Chike, please get up.”

The body of Osei was kept at zero car park of the airport terminal when the Minister of Aviation, Mr Osita Chidoka, visited. It is yet to be removed at press time.