The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has taken action regarding the tragic death of Ms. Remilekun Toyosi Meshioye, who passed away while aboard an Egyptair flight on September 4, 2023.
In a letter personally signed by Dabiri-Erewa and delivered by the NiDCOM‘s Head of Media and Public Relations, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, to Mr. Majdi Al Aridi, the General Manager of Egyptair in Abuja, a formal request for an investigation has been made.
Describing Remilekun’s untimely demise as “sad and painful,” Dabiri-Erewa emphasized the urgency of understanding the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. The NiDCOM Chairman’s action was prompted by a petition sent to the Commission on behalf of the Meshioye family by Mrs. Olufunmilola Olaniyi-Alabi, Remilekun’s elder sister based in the United Kingdom.
Since the tragic incident occurred on the Egyptair flight from Lagos to Cairo, the airline’s management has not made any effort to contact the family or Remilekun’s next of kin, as required by the information provided in her flight records.
“It is surprising that Egyptair management has not deemed it fit to contact any members of Remilekun family to break the sad news to them nor condole with them. It has not responded as well to NIDCOM petition since Wednesday Sept. 13, 2023,” the statement added.
“The Commission, on behalf of the family and the Federal Government of Nigeria, demanded for full disclosure that led to the sudden death of Ms. Remilekun Toyosi Meshioye aboard Egyptair on that fateful day.”
The NiDCOM leader, who expressed condolences to the family and offered prayers for the peaceful rest of the deceased, assured them that justice would be pursued in honor of Remilekun.
Remilekun, aged 41, was scheduled to travel to London for her studies. It is reported that she departed Lagos for London on Egypt Air MS 876, departing from Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, on Monday, September 4. Unfortunately, she fell ill during the flight and was tragically discovered deceased upon arrival at Cairo International Airport.
Mrs. Olufunmilola Olaniyi-Alabi, speaking on behalf of the family, claimed that the airline did not notify them of this tragic incident. Instead, they received a message from the Nigerian consular office in Cairo, informing them of her passing during the flight.
“Please we need to know what exactly happened to Remilekun and how to get her corpse back to Nigeria for a peaceful burial as well as all her belongings in the custody of the airline,” the statement added.