Editorial
Towards Sustainable Environment
Humanity paused a while last Wednesday to commemorate this year’s World Environment Day (WED). Observed since 1974, the United Nations (UN) specially set aside every June 5 annually to arouse and sensitize international public consciousness on environment-related issues that affect mankind.
Observed in 100 countries worldwide, the WED provides the necessary platform for environmental advocacy and the inevitable and paramount necessity to protect the environment.
The import of the event is largely to foster synergy at local, national and international levels toward ensuring sustainable environment for present and future generations.
In accordance with the UN declaration, a theme is usually chosen for each year to draw global attention to critical environment challenges and realities.
In other words, nothing else could be more apt and appropriate than this year’s theme: “Air Pollution and the Environment”. The theme, indeed, affects the global community as air pollution affects both developed and developing nations of the world, particularly developing countries such as Nigeria which is yet to take concrete and pro-active actions and policies aimed at mitigating the effects of air pollution on the citizenry.
More worrisome is the case of Niger Delta region, especially Rivers State, where the issue of soot has ravaped the environment in the past few years, resulting mainly from hydro-carbon activities of oil and gas companies but later worsened by illegal refining otherwise called “Kpo-fire” in local parlance.
With the attendant effects on human health notably cancer, lungs, skin related ailments, among other hazards, government, especially at the federal level, appears not to muster enough political will to squarely address the soot challenge ravaging Rivers State and beyond.
The much-desired synergy between federal, state and local government authorities to address the soot challenge, from all indications, is just not there.
It is pertinent to underscore the fact that man depends on his environment to live and should he ignore nature, it is at his peril. The inevitability for mankind, therefore, is to protect and preserve his environment.
Essentially, the eco-system-water including, plants and other creatures of nature, exists to protect and sustain man. Thus, a responsible exploitation and preservation of these natural endowments remains the sine-qua-non for man’s continuous existence.
Regrettably, man’s actions on another earth appear to care less for his environment but rather tend to suit his immediate gains without due regard for its long-term effects on humanity. This is not the path to follow!
Quite frankly, governments at all levels, ostensibly lack the willpower to tackle environmental issues squarely. Gas flaring, domestic bush burning and industrial waste disposal, soot, Ogoni clean-up and even Niger Delta environment remediation are among critical challenges begging for proactive measures.
Over the centuries, studies have shown that man has looked only at himself alone, recognized only the human community and exploited everything around him to serve only community, all at the detriment of his environment. Researches, however, have since shown that human community cannot stand or be sustained in without sustainable environment.
The Tide is, indeed, saddened by the fact that all laws and timelines set by the federal government to stop gas flaring, which is a major cause of air pollution, have been flagrantly disobeyed by the oil and gas companies with little or no sanctions against the culprits or erring companies.
This year’s WED theme, therefore, provides another ample opportunity to remind the Muhammadu Buhari administration that the time to put a final stop to gas flaring is now.
It began as a seemingly minor in- flight disagreement. Comfort Emmason, a passenger on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos, reportedly failed to switch off her mobile phone when instructed by the cabin crew. What should have been a routine enforcement of safety regulations spiralled into a physical confrontation, sparking a national debate on the limits of airline authority and the rights of passengers.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) wasted no time in condemning the treatment meted out to Emmason. In a strongly worded statement, the body described the incident as “a flagrant violation of her fundamental human rights” and called for a thorough investigation into the conduct of the airline staff. The NBA stressed that while passengers must adhere to safety rules, such compliance should never be extracted through intimidation, violence, or humiliation.
Following the altercation, Emmason found herself arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court and remanded at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison, a location more commonly associated with hardened criminals than with errant passengers. In a surprising turn of events, the Federal Government later dropped all charges against her, citing “overriding public interest” and concerns about due process.
Compounding her woes, Ibom Air initially imposed a lifetime ban preventing her from boarding its aircraft. That ban has now been lifted, following mounting public pressure and calls from rights groups for a more measured approach. The reversal has been welcomed by many as a step towards restoring fairness and proportionality in handling such disputes.
While her refusal to comply with crew instructions was undeniably inappropriate, questions linger about whether the punishment fit the offence. Was the swift escalation from verbal reminder to physical ejection a proportionate response, or an abuse of authority? The incident has reignited debate over how airlines balance safety enforcement with respect for passenger rights.
The Tide unequivocally condemns the brutal and degrading treatment the young Nigerian woman received from the airline’s staff. No regulation, however vital, justifies the use of physical force or the public shaming of a passenger. Such behaviour is antithetical to the principles of customer service, human dignity, and the rule of law.
Emmason’s own defiance warrants reproach. Cabin crew instructions, especially during boarding or take-off preparations, are not mere suggestions; they are safety mandates. Reports suggest she may have been unable to comply because of a malfunctioning power button on her device, but even so, she could have communicated this clearly to the crew. Rules exist to safeguard everyone on board, and passengers must treat them with due seriousness.
Nigerians, whether flying domestically or abroad, would do well to internalise the importance of orderliness in public spaces. Adherence to instructions, patience in queues, and courteous engagement with officials are hallmarks of civilised society. Disregard for these norms not only undermines safety but also projects a damaging image of the nation to the wider world.
The Emmason affair is not an isolated case. Former Edo State Governor and current Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, once found himself grounded after arriving late for an Air Peace flight. Witnesses alleged that he assaulted airline staff and ordered the closure of the terminal’s main entrance. This is hardly the conduct expected of a statesman.
More recently, a Nollywood-worthy episode unfolded at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, involving Fuji icon “King”, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM1. In a viral video, he was seen exchanging heated words with officials after being prevented from boarding an aircraft.
Events took a dangerous turn when the aircraft, moving at near take-off speed, nearly clipped the 68-year-old musician’s head with its wing. Such an occurrence points to a serious breach of airport safety protocols, raising uncomfortable questions about operational discipline at Nigeria’s gateways.
According to accounts circulating online, Wasiu had attempted to board an aircraft while he was carrying an alcoholic drink and refused to relinquish it when challenged. His refusal led to de-boarding, after which the Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, imposed a six-month “no-fly” ban, citing “unacceptable” conduct.
It is deeply concerning that individuals of such prominence, including Emmason’s pilot adversary, whose careers have exposed them to some of the most disciplined aviation environments in the world, should exhibit conduct that diminishes the nation’s reputation. True leadership, whether in politics, culture, or professional life, calls for restraint and decorum, all the more when exercised under public scrutiny.
Most egregiously, in Emmason’s case, reports that she was forcibly stripped in public and filmed for online circulation are deeply disturbing. This was an act of humiliation and a gross invasion of privacy, violating her right to dignity and falling short of the standards expected in modern aviation. No person, regardless of the circumstances, should be subjected to such degrading treatment.
Ibom Air must ensure its staff are trained to treat passengers with proper decorum at all times. If Emmason had broken the law, security personnel could have been called in to handle the matter lawfully. Instead, her ordeal turned into a public spectacle. Those responsible for assaulting her should face prosecution, and the airline should be compelled to compensate her. Emmason, for her part, should pursue legal redress to reinforce the principle that justice and civility must prevail in Nigeria’s skies.