How I Nearly Fainted at Lagos Airport – Ex-Ondo First Lady Recounts Experience

Dr. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, former First Lady of Ondo State, has narrated a troubling experience at the Lagos Airport Terminal 2, saying the situation at the baggage claim area nearly caused her to faint.

In a statement released on Friday in Owerri, Imo State, Dr. Anyanwu-Akeredolu said she arrived in Lagos on Thursday aboard a United Nigeria Airlines flight from Owerri and was forced to wait for more than two hours to collect her luggage due to what she described as poor facilities and weak operational management.

According to her, only one conveyor belt was functional at the terminal, while luggage from an Ibom Air flight was being offloaded at the same time. She said the baggage claim hall was too small to handle two flights, resulting in severe overcrowding.

“The space was poorly ventilated, without air conditioning, and the heat was intense. The environment was simply not fit for passengers,” she said.

Dr. Anyanwu-Akeredolu expressed concern over the condition of Nigeria’s airports, noting that several Nigerians returning from the diaspora openly complained, comparing the experience unfavourably with airports in countries where passenger comfort is treated as a priority.

She also recounted how a fellow passenger, a woman she did not know, offered her a chair when she became physically weak while standing for long hours.

“That simple gesture made a significant difference and may have prevented me from collapsing,” she said, while appreciating the act of kindness.

The former Ondo First Lady had travelled to her hometown, Emeabiam, during the festive period.

She called on the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to urgently improve airport infrastructure and service delivery, stressing that airports are the first point of contact for visitors and citizens alike.

“Our airports reflect the country. Efficiency, basic infrastructure and passenger welfare are not optional. They are essential,” she said.