The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), has formally written Egyptair, asking them to address the tragic death of Nigerian citizen, Ms. Remilekun Toyosi Meshioye, on their September 4, 2023 flight.
The request was contained in a letter personally delivered by the Commission’s Head of Media and Public Relations, to Mr. Majdi Al Aridi, Egyptair’s General Manager in Abuja.
The CEO NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa expressed deep sorrow over Remilekun’s untimely passage.
Her petition emphasized that Remilekun’s case came to NIDCOM’s attention through a plea from Mrs. Olufunmilola Olaniyi-Alabi, Remilekun’s sister based in the UK, acting on behalf of the family.
The Chairman noted that since Remilekun’s tragic passing during her flight from Lagos to Cairo, Egyptair has not initiated contact with any family member or her designated next of kin as listed in her travel records.
“On behalf of the grieving family and the Federal Government of Nigeria, NIDCOM now seeks transparency regarding the circumstances of Ms. Remilekun Toyosi Meshioye’s untimely death on Egyptair’s flight.
“Dabiri-Erewa, who has conveyed her condolences to the family and prayed for the peaceful repose of the deceased’s soul, has assured them that justice will be pursued in Remilekun’s memory.
“Remilekun, aged 41, was en route to London for further studies when the tragedy occurred. She departed Lagos on Egypt Air MS 876 flight to Cairo on September 4, via Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
“Regrettably, she fell ill during the flight and was pronounced deceased upon arrival at Cairo International Airport.
“According to Mrs. Olufunmilola Olaniyi-Alabi, the family was not notified by the airline but instead received a message from the Nigerian consular office in Cairo, informing them of her in-flight passing.
“Mrs. Olaniyi-Alabi expressed the family’s urgent need for clarification regarding the circumstances of Remilekun’s death, repatriating her remains to Nigeria for burial, and retrieving her belongings from the airline’s custody.”
