The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued an advisory aimed at protecting the dignity of the human person in aviation operations across Nigeria.
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Executive Secretary of the commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, SAN, announced the advisory at a press conference in Abuja, citing the recent inhuman treatment of Ms. Comfort Emanson, a passenger aboard an Ibom Air flight, as a catalyst for the move.
According to Ojukwu, the advisory was issued under Section 5(L)(M)(O) of the National Human Rights Commission (Amendment) Act, 2010, and addressed to all stakeholders in the aviation industry, including airline operators, aviation security, law enforcement agencies, and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). Media organisations, journalists, and social media content creators were also urged to take note.
The NHRC stressed that all duty-bearers particularly aviation authorities, law enforcement agents, and judicial officers must uphold human dignity in their actions and decisions.
“No circumstance justifies the use of torture or any form of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. The normalisation of such practices undermines the rule of law, erodes public trust in institutions, and perpetuates cycles of violence and impunity,” Ojukwu stated.
He emphasised that accountability for rights violations is paramount under Nigerian laws, including Chapter 4 of the Constitution and the Anti-Torture Act. While the statement did not accuse any specific individual or institution, it underscored the need for responsibility in all actions, including the alleged misconduct attributed to the passenger in the Ibom Air case.
Ojukwu acknowledged recent government and aviation authority actions, including amnesty granted in the Ibom Air incident and a separate case involving ValuJet Airline and Mr. Wasiu Ayinde Marshall.
“It is our considered view that all human rights issues arising from these cases be thoroughly addressed in the interest of the rule of law and justice,” he said, adding that concerns include violations of the rights to dignity, privacy, and safety of passengers.
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