Passengers onboard a Royal Air Maroc flight (AT 554) from Lagos to Casablanca, Morocco, endured a panic-filled ordeal on Easter Monday after the aircraft attempted an unscheduled diversion to Marrakech, another major city in the country.

The flight departed Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at 7:05 a.m., with a scheduled arrival in Casablanca at 11:30 a.m. The journey proceeded normally until the cabin crew announced that the aircraft would make an unscheduled stop in Marrakech to pick up additional passengers, a development that surprised travellers who had expected a direct flight.

Shortly after the announcement, the aircraft began to shake violently as it attempted to adjust course to Marrakech. Passengers were gripped by fear, clutching seats, praying, and screaming the name of Jesus.

The aircraft appeared nearly half empty, which made passengers perceive that it was all about profit for the airline.

Cabin crew later apologised for the huge inconvenience but offered no detailed explanation for the development.

“They want to make more money at the expense of our lives,” one passenger, who requested not to be named in print, due to the nature of the incident, told our correspondent. “My only prayer was for us to land safely. I was watching everything from the window; it was beyond chaotic.”

The Nigerian traveller, who flies nine times a year between Africa’s most populous nation and the United States, said he had never experienced anything like it. The man added that the turbulence felt as though the plane could barely handle the air pressure en route to Marrakech, but the crew eventually managed to revert to the original route to Casablanca.

After landing safely in Casablanca, attempts by our correspondent to speak with the pilot were unsuccessful. A crew member said he would check with his supervisor and returned shortly, explaining that the pilot was attending to operational duties and would join shortly. The pilot, however, did not come forward, and no further clarification was provided.

Aviation regulations from major authorities like the Federal Aviation Administration, UK Civil Aviation Authority, and International Civil Aviation Organisation allow aircraft to divert, meaning to land at an airport other than the planned destination, but only for certain reasons related to safety, weather, technical problems, onboard emergencies, or airport or airspace issues. These are not random business decisions like picking up passengers to fill the aircraft.

According to experts, flight plans are filed in advance and must specify destinations and alternates. Deviating to load extra passengers at a place not in the flight plan would require clearance from every country involved and must still meet operational safety requirements.

A Senior Reporter at TechCabal, Temitayo Jayeola, who was also on the flight, described the experience as life-threatening. “I said my last prayer,” he recounted, recalling the tense moments when the plane jolted and dipped mid-air.

Another passenger shared a harrowing account of the turbulence. “The plane was trying to force itself into the weather,” he said. “Instead of going this direction, it veered another way. I was observing it, and it was dropping; if you force it, it could have ended in a crash. When you are flying, try to watch the map to know exactly where the pilot is going. If the wind had broken the plane, there was no way we would have survived.”

There are currently no direct flights from Lagos to Marrakech. Most flights from Lagos to Marrakech require at least one stop.

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

The strike declared by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, scheduled to begin today, April 7, 2026, is already threatening to disrupt services across federal and state-owned hospitals nationwide.

Resident doctors in Nigeria have spent a cumulative 51 days on strike since the administration of President Bola Tinubu began, a development that raises fresh concerns over the government’s ability to sustain agreements with health workers.

The figure, which includes two major strikes and a warning action between 2023 and 2025, comes as doctors once again announced plans to down tools starting from today over unpaid allowances and policy reversals.

The PUNCH reports that the immediate trigger for the new strike is the Federal Government’s reported decision to halt the implementation of the revised Professional Allowance Table, a key component of an agreement reached after the 2025 strike.

In its latest statement, NARD described the move as “unfortunate” and accused the government of pushing doctors into another avoidable industrial action.

The association said its National Executive Council resolved to embark on a “total and comprehensive strike” following deliberations over the policy shift.

NARD is demanding an immediate reversal of the decision to stop the allowance table; payment of promotion and salary arrears; settlement of 19 months’ outstanding allowance arrears, and release of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund.

At the centre of the dispute is the Professional Allowance Table, which standardises payments such as call duty, shift allowances, and other work-related incentives.

An analysis of strikes by resident doctors since May 2023 shows a pattern of recurring disputes.

In August 2023, the association embarked on a strike totalling 17 days.

The 2023 strike was primarily driven by welfare concerns and the worsening economic conditions facing doctors in Nigeria.

Following the removal of fuel subsidy on May 29, 2023, by the President, the cost of living rose sharply across the country. However, resident doctors said their salaries were not reviewed to reflect the new reality, making it increasingly difficult for them to meet basic needs.

In addition to salary concerns, the doctors complained about poor welfare, including inadequate and sometimes delayed allowances.

They also raised issues around insufficient funding for training and other professional needs, which they said affected both their performance and career progression.

Another major factor was the growing shortage of medical personnel due to the mass migration of Nigerian doctors abroad in search of better opportunities.

This trend significantly increased the workload on those who remained in the country, leading to stress, burnout, and declining morale within the health sector.

The strike, which began on July 26, 2023, was also linked to broader concerns about poor working conditions, including inadequate hospital infrastructure and the government’s failure to fully implement previous agreements reached with the association.

After about 17 days of industrial action, the strike was suspended on August 12, 2023, following negotiations between NARD and the Federal Government.

The doctors embarked on a warning strike, which lasted five days in September 2025. This was followed by a full-blown strike in November 2025. The strike lasted for 29 days.

The roots of the current crisis lie in the 2025 agreement between NARD and the Federal Government, which followed a prolonged strike.

That agreement introduced the revised allowance structure aimed at improving doctors’ welfare, including enhanced payments for call duty, shifts, and rural postings.

Implementation was initially scheduled for January 2026 and later shifted to February. However, doctors said the process had been inconsistent and was discontinued.

As of the time of filing this report, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has not made an official statement concerning the planned strike by NARD.

Speaking with our correspondent on Monday, the Secretary General of NARD, Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim, noted that the association would consider the suspension of the strike should the government announce a decision to reverse its decision.

“When many people say we should start the strike immediately, we said no, this is a public holiday, let us give time for them to reverse the instruction, and once they give that reverse instruction, whether they communicate to us or they do not communicate to us, we will know.”

Ibrahim also noted that the situation was not only particular to resident doctors alone, but also to other categories of healthcare workers in the sector.

The Senior Special Adviser to the Minister of Health, Chinedu Moghalu, did not respond to inquiries sent to him as of the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, the Abia State chapter of NARD has said it will align itself with the decision of its national directive to embark on strike from Tuesday.

According to the state president, Dr Godwin Alaede, after its congress in Umuahia on Monday, the branch said, “We are 100 per cent prepared to embark on the indefinite strike by midnight.

Dr Alaede said when doctors are well remunerated, they will work well.

He said the doctors were sensitive to the plight of patients, adding, “We regret any inconveniences it (the strike) will cause to anyone who may be affected.”

He, however, assured that medical consultants and the nurses would fill the gap.

He noted that NARD in the state would hold another congress on Tuesday to review any agreement that may come out of the national level meeting with the Federal Government on Monday.

Former governor of Ogun State and senator representing Ogun East, Gbenga Daniel, recounted the political rivalry that once existed between him and his successor in office, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, saying that he went through hell under what he described as his “enfant terrible successor.”

Daniel said that at the centre of the political differences was the fact that Amosun was in a hurry to become governor, adding that there was nothing anyone, including himself, could do to stop his dream.

Daniel said that because he had not been seen to support Amosun’s governorship ambition, the former governor wasted no time moving against him and subjecting him to a witch-hunt when he eventually succeeded him in May 2011.

He, however, said Daniel the duo had mended fences, put past political fights behind them, and are now focused on working for the further development of the state and the country at large.

Daniel disclosed this on Monday in his short remarks during his 70th birthday thanksgiving service held at Abraham’s Tabernacle, Sagamu.

The thanksgiving had in attendance the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, represented by his wife, Mrs Bola Obasanjo, Governor Dapo Abiodun, represented by the Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele; Osun State Deputy Governor, Kola Adewusi, former Governor Amosun, Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, Alake and paramount ruler of Egba land, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, the Akarigbo and paramount ruler of Remo land, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, 2023 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu, among others.

Speaking at the ceremony, Daniel said, “Let me appreciate the former governors who are here, especially the one they call Ajiri, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, an enfant terrible successor  of mine.

“He showed me hell, but we thank God, with the prayers of our clergymen, he has repented.

“Sen Ibikunle, thank you very much. We started the race together, but you were too much in a hurry to  be governor. That was what happened.

“It is people like you that we call Ajagungbade. You fought for the crown, and you got it and became the governor, and there is nothing anyone can do about it. I wish you well, and I thank you sincerely for coming.”

Daniel and Amosun were political allies, and while the senator was serving his first term as the governor of the state from 2003 to 2007, Amosun, elected on the same platform of PDP, was representing Ogun Central at the Senate.

However, Daniel’s eyes on the second term reportedly made the two political allies fall apart in the build-up to the 2007 governorship election.

Amosun pulled away from the PDP and contested against Daniel on the platform of the All Nigeria People’s Party but lost the election to Daniel, who was then seeking his second term.

Amosun eventually succeeded Daniel after clinching his governorship victory in the 2011 election, defeating Gboyega Isiaka of the Peoples Party of Nigeria, who was backed by Daniel.

Amosun, on assumption of office in May 2011, launched a probe of his predecessor’s administration, leading to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission charging Daniel to court on financial embezzlement to the tune of N7bn.

After years of standing trial, the court case was struck out, and Daniel was discharged and acquitted of about 15 charges levelled against him.

Daniel appreciated the large turnout of people for the ceremony, saying that he was happy that the people came out in large numbers to reciprocate his leadership in the state for over 25 years.

He declared that the future of the country is very bright and called on the people to continue to support the purposeful leadership of President Bola Tinubu, who he said remained committed to making the country great once again.

Ministering at the special birthday service, Pastor Adeboye described Daniel as “quite an exceptional politician and original Omoluwabi.”

Adeboye said, having lived in Ogun State since 1983, he could, without fear or favour, disclose that Daniel has carved a niche for himself as he never played politics with the church.

“If you are looking for original Omoluwabi, Gbenga Daniel is one, and people like him are quite few. That is why when he approached me and said that I would be the one to say a few words during his 70th birthday, I said I would alter my busy schedule and be there.

“I respect you, sir; the Redeemed Christian Church of God respect you and wishes you a happy 70th birthday,” Adeboye said.

Taking his message from Psalm 90 vs 12, Adeboye urged the people to be conscious of their sojourn in life, because they are bound to give account of their deeds one day before their Maker.

He explained that those who want to end well after their sojourn on earth must fear God, prioritise holiness and accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour.

In his address, Governor Abiodun hailed Daniel’s invaluable contributions to both governance and national development.

He said, “As governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel brought energy and purpose to governance, laying foundations that continue to support growth and development across our state.”

The governor added that Daniel had continued to serve with the same passion and sense of responsibility as the senator representing Ogun East, contributing meaningfully to legislation, representation and the advancement of his constituents.

Congratulating the former governor on reaching the 70-year milestone, Abiodun prayed that Daniel would continue to grow stronger as he continues to devote the rest of his life to serving humanity.