Nollywood actress and filmmaker Bolaji Ogunmola has publicly expressed her heartfelt appreciation to Nigerians for the overwhelming support she received after a distressing travel experience with United Nigeria Airlines (UNA). The incident, which left her stranded at the airport for over 24 hours, sparked widespread discussion online.
A Public Thank You for Private Support
In a video shared on her Instagram page on Friday, January 10, 2026, Ogunmola emotionally thanked everyone who reached out to her. She acknowledged the flood of calls, messages, and offers of practical help that came after she voiced her complaints about the airline's service disruption. "Thank you so much to everyone who literally reached out, who sent a message, who called, who sent help. God bless you guys. I’m deeply, deeply thankful," the actress stated.
She specifically highlighted the intervention of individuals and government officials who assisted her during the ordeal. "Thank you so much, Mr Wale. I’m saying thank you again. Thank you so much, Ekiti State Government, the ADC, the driver and the security. I am so deeply grateful," Ogunmola added. She also extended her thanks to bloggers and media platforms for amplifying her voice, noting that their coverage was crucial in bringing public attention to the issue.
The Airline Saga and a Question of Communication
The controversy stems from the repeated delay and eventual cancellation of United Nigeria Airlines Flight UN0623, on which Ogunmola was scheduled to travel from Lagos to Ekiti on January 7, 2026. The actress had previously revealed that the disruption caused significant professional and financial setbacks, as she had invested between N15 million and N20 million in preparations for her film project, 'TOC'.
Reacting to the airline's subsequent apology, Ogunmola criticized what she described as a failure in proper communication. She questioned the logic of issuing tickets and boarding passes only to cancel the flight without what she considered adequate notice. "They said they duly communicated, but how do you book tickets and boarding passes for people and then say you’re not flying again?" she asked in her video. The actress further claimed that airline officials even took photographs with her at the airport the following day without informing her of the cancellation.
Airline's Response and Ongoing Fallout
United Nigeria Airlines had issued a formal apology on Thursday, January 9. In a statement shared on Instagram by the airline's Public Relations Officer, Chibuke Uloka, the carrier attributed the cancellation to "unscheduled aircraft maintenance." The statement asserted that all affected passengers, including Ogunmola, were informed via email and text messages.
The airline emphasized that it had specially reintroduced the flight on January 8, 2026, despite the Ekiti-Lagos route not being on that day's schedule, and stated it had complied with all Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) consumer protection regulations. The statement concluded with an unreserved apology and a commitment to safety and customer service excellence.
Addressing critics who labeled her a "big baby" for speaking out, Ogunmola clarified that she does not enjoy unnecessary stress and found the attention from the incident overwhelming. The event highlights ongoing concerns about passenger rights and communication protocols within Nigeria's domestic aviation sector.
