Dear Jerry - here is one economic suggestion that have been tested in the other parts of the world, including Britain and it brought some quick actions. NIGERIANS MUST BOYCOTT BRITISH AIRWAYS IMMEDIATELY. Remember the British Airways is not flying Lagos, Abuja and Kano routes on humanitarian bases. Let it be known that BA is making huge profits or else it would have long gone. The Nigerian Government should not get involve in something like this - the Nigerian citizens who have been spending their hard earned Naira on British Airways must set the stage. Jerry, use your column in the Abuja Leadership to initiate the campaign. Remember, most airlines are struggling now because of the high cost of fuel and Nigeria passengers must at this time make The British Airways feel the impact of their actions by not patronising it. Lets see how long BA can carry only their arrongant pilots & crews from Britain to Nigeria. On the other hand, since Nigeria Government is not capable of managing its own airline; it should open the Nigeria routes for other airlines to compete with British Airways. Nigeria travellers must learn to get value for their money by travelling with reputable Airlines, such as KLM, Delta, Continental, North West Airline and others. Nigerians have had enough of the British Airways irresponsible and inhumane treatments.

I couldn't agree with you more. I sit here reading this article yet unable to understand why we must continue to project this image about ourselves to the entire world. We need to understand that none of those other nations we admire and strive to be like got to where they are by being docile about issues that affected them. We have tried our government sevral times and realized that little will be done from that end regarding any issue on general citizens' concern. Hence we must start talking to ourselves on how to get things done by affirmative actions. Democracy is govenrment of the people, for the people and BY TTHE PEOPLE. If change will not come from lawmakers who seem to think they are still under still under colonial era hence their attitude of "lets keep mum" then change must come from the masses. NIGERIANS SHOULD START SPEAKING UP FOR THEMSELVES AND WE CAN USE THIS AS AN EXAMPLE BY BOYCOTTING BA AND SENDING A MESSAGE TO THE ENTIRE WORLD THAT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

I couldn't agree with you more as well, Waiting for the Gov. for what? the treat this other so called nations nicely because they are dumbs, this other nations subject to them for anything goes but we won't be like them, so let the pple take actions into their hands without no Gov intervention and that should be the right way to fight back. I know BA would not like that kind of action cos they know who, what and how we are, and if they still feel or think what will happen then let's show them WHAT CAN HAPPEN! by the way who is BA to mess with NIGERIANS, let us all stop the patronage, coupled to the few listed Airlines, Emirates from the Mis East would be willing to replace them and not to compete because BA knows Emirates Airlines are too much for them to compete with a mere BA, they may be long existing but their the long existing bullshit has come to a stop from today onwards. BA should know that when Nigerians stops patronage, the whole world is stopping as well if they need a proof, they should check their YTD income to the previous. Plus its just too easy, its a matter of Question and answer (What do you think of BA? Ans: You don't wanna try-rather go by leg) BA should be BANNED for life!

It is sad to know that the giant of Africa does not have a national flag carrier flight. It is truly a shame to see how uncaring and selfish our leaders are. I for one do not and will not use BA ever again. I used it once, in 1990, their service and treatment of Africans especially Nigerian was horrendous and that was good enough for me. No more freaking BA. I'll go KLM anytime, any day. I am even skeptical of Virgin Atlantic and do not use them as well. Using them twice is good enough, even though they are much bettehr than BA. Yes I support people taking laws into their own hands and boycotting BA completely. The government will only think of themselves and not fend for its citizens. All those hard earned Nigerian money going to BA should be diverted to other carriers like KLM, Kenyan Airways, Ethiopian Airways and even Ghana Airways. But then again why should we use other nations air plane when Nigeria can have its own. Isn't it completely stupid to give your money to someone else? And make them rich while you are getting poorer? Why can't our money hungry- foolish-stupid and idiotic government do something, instead of just always thinking about making themselves rich overnight.

I am really sad about this issue,i do not aggree with those who say that it is not the problem of the government.I am strongly advocating for this country Nigeria to end every relationship with the british people because the problem we have today is from the british and they are not sorry for their mistakes.Migeria has suffered so many untold hardship from the british and i dont see why Nigerians are still doing something with anything british.It is very unfortunate that we do not have a government that knows what it means to protect her citizens,it is also very unfortunate that these fools that call themselves goverment officials have nothing to do but to worship these dirty things that call themselves british.Time has come for we Nigerians all over the world to stand up and defend ourselves.I am advocating that british air ways must be banned from coming to nigeria,and i believe nothing will happen.Nigerians, our future is in our hands let us stand up and defend it.We should not wait for those fools that call themselves government officials to do anything for us because they do not know their right from their left,they are ,more or less not qualified for the post they are holding,i mean from the president to the last man on the seat.

Jerry, this is a great stuff. This disrespect for Nigerians by the British Airways must have severe consequences. All the suggestions made are good enough but the most effective is to teach the BA that "the customer is always right" and that Nigerians are no exception to this marketing rule. The way to handle this issue effectively is to start right away through all available propanganda means: word of mouth, chatrooms, more editorials like Jerry`s, even cartoons of the BA as a racist monster. In doing this we should get everyone who cares involved including other Africans, because this is the only sure way to earn ourselves the respect which the British does not give us. I would be glad if Jerry or another columnist will keep track of any progress in this recent issue and the effect of any measures that we Nigerians (not the rogues in government)are taking against the BA.

If the Nigerian government join the bandwagon to call for the boycott of BA it could be considered as a hostile act capable of hampering intergovernmental relationship. The Government can saliently support her citizens like someone suggested by opening the door for other Service Providers to complete the Nigeria route. I could not agree more with everyone that enough is enough and the only language to regain our respect from not only the British Airways but the British Government as well is to hit them where it hurts most the pocket. Yes, Boycott is the way to go people.

Nigerians arise,from that deep sleep induced by succesive inept and wayward leadership that has reduced us to nervous wrecks, even when it comes to fighting for our rights.The saying goes that when a person wakes up that is daybreak.It has been long and painful(treatment from the rasist west)but we will overcome it.They don,t like us, don,t respect us and would have nothing to do with us unless of course if they have seen something they can steal,it,s been so for more than 5 hundred years,and surely it won,t continue forever.We will overcome,dry bones shall live again.

We do not respect our self(Authority Figure In Africa)we treat our own people like CRAP,I flew into Ghana from America, there was an delay on my connecting Flight. Crew of the airline may the announcement that, there was going to be a stay over, all passenger should get there overnight bags. They said, we going to be responsible for your lodging. AS we proceeded to the hotel that is when, I notice the strangest thing that happen to us(AFRICAN PASSANGER). The white passenger was treated differently then us, They were taken to a luxury five star hotel. We(AFRICAN) were taken to FILTHY HOTEL, when we question the crew. Why were they doing, what they were doing? The HOSTILITY IN THERE VOICES(RUDE) underline the disrespect we as African have for our OWN KIND. Those brother and sister on that BA FLIGHT, I have the OUTMOST RESPECT, FOR STANDING UP.

well Blaming an Airline like Virgin Nigeria which is only partially controlled by British Tycoon Richard Branson goes to shows the lack of knowledge to the actual extended ownership of Virgin Nigeria and the Value to Nigeria as a whole.

Virgin Atlantic which owns 49 percent of Virgin Nigeria is indeed itself owned 49 percent itself by Singapore Airways.

Virgin is not a British Group of Companies Virgin is a Global Group of Companies that draws financing and direction from Asia, America the UK , Europe and even Canada. I would not Doubt Nigerians have a Stake in the Greater Virgin Brand.

As a Canadian citizen I have been researching Nigeria for a While and my first sign of Confidence in the Country is that a Highly Phrased Global Brand like the Virgin Group would have a stake in Nigeria's Nation Airline Putting their Branding on it. Few Places on Earth have that good stamp on it. This was probably the Biggest step forward your former president Obasanjo could do excluding the retirement of the Paris and London Club Debts.

When Virgin Nigeria starts to Fly into America at the Atlanta,Houston,Newark and Washington Airports it mean a huge difference in Western Perception in Nigeria's Image. A homegrown nation airline will never do for a very deserving Country like Nigeria which in many western minds is only known for the Niger delta Violence and 419 scammers.

Building a positive world image is tied to partnering with positive Global companies. I Believe British Airways is the problem here not all British People. (I personally had the worst experience of my life travelling BA from Halifax Nova Scotia to Abuja in June of 2007 which had nothing to do with racism)

I must say that what the British irways did to the Nigerians on the said flight was very reprehensible and a wanton violation of their human rights. But having said that I have a slightly differen approach to this matter than most of my fellow Nigerians. I had a serious debate with a colleague on this issue the other day and asked him one simple question. Why is it that Nigerians demand from other standards that they tehmselves have not even begun to aspire to achieve? If that flight in question was a Nigerian plane and the Nigerian Police was restraining an accused on the flight would anyone on the plane dare challenge them? If anyone dared do that what would the Nigerian Police do to that adventurous fellow?? One day so very many years ago i was in a taxi and a policeman arrested the driver for no aparent reason and for curiosity sake I floowed them to the station to see what he was going to be charged with. When we got there they said they were charging him for dangerous driving and i sought to intervene. i told the officer that Iwas on the scene and there was nothing like that. He looked at me with disdain and told his people "...charge him (that is me) with aiding and abetting...!" My only saving grace was that I am a lawyer and was able to point to him the folly of charging someone with aiding and abetting dangerous driving. WHat am I saying?. Foreigners treat us so badly because they know that a Nigerin in his own country is entitled no zero respect from the people in authority. My people say that if you keep your hoe carelessly your neighbours are likely to use it for the disposal of human waste. That is the dilemma we face here. The other day a friend's driver wwas returning with my friends kids from school runs and the said driver stopped to ease himself by the side of the road which agreed was a bad act, a few law enforcement agents arrived at the scene and rather than arrest him if it was an offence to do what he did they proceeded to give him a serious beating and put his head inside the gutter all in the presence of the kids. If any of those people who were protesting in the plane had passed by would they have stopped to challenge the law enforcement officers for brutalising a driver for urination in public? What happened to the Nigerians in the britih airways flight would never have happened to an American. If we want respect for our people we too must begin to respect and treat ourselves like human biengs before others would follow our cue. And for Nigerians who get deported I think we should advice them thatonce you get to a stage of deportation there is no need to start putting up any physical reistance. Such action would only get you into more trouble.If you are in another man's country illegally and they say you should get out you simply obey than if you think the order was wrong you fight it legally. I am sure that if the deportee was going in quietly there would have been no need to restrain him physically.

I am glad you guys have come up with the right response to this ugly incident. But will Nigerians really be wise, as to follow up on this? I know that even if British Airways company apologises to Nigerians (which I am sure it would not do)I still would not fly British Airways the next 10yrs at least. It is time we showed the world that we too can be united against oppression.

that was highly insensitive of BA and iam of the opinion that there sh0uld be some sort of compensation for the injury caused.It should not be condoned for any reason,but if this matter is left to die without any action,then, BA is yet to do the worse.Our leaders should stop playing sycophancy and stand up to their rights,Nigerians should not be treated with such contempt,we deserve some respect,afterall in this case we are their host community.