Nigerian Billionaire Hires Helicopter After Being Stuck In Traffic

What would you do if you are a billionaire stuck in a four-hour traffic jam? Would you sit it out and wait like everyone else?

Social media went wild on Sunday as a video of a man being airlifted from a Nigerian highway notorious for its traffic jams. The man is believed to be Nigerian billionaire Julian Osula.

Many on social media site Twitter condemned this lawlessness and disregard of the ordinary man by Nigeria's super-rich. This comes hot on the heels of the recent outrage by the Agriculture minister who lashed out at Nigerians who were reportedly importing pizza from London.

The story broke out when luxury brand Julian's Luxury spread the idea that the video showed a billionaire being rescued from a traffic jam.

"Real Luxury Lifestyle... the Power of Money... picking up a VIP who is stuck in traffic on the Lagos Benin Expressway," the caption to the Instagram video said.

A statement from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority said they had identified the operator of the said aircraft which they said had engaged in an unscheduled diversion which worsened the traffic situation.

NCAA Spokesman Sam Adurogboye is quoted as confirming that the helicopter with registration number 5N – BVQ and aircraft type AW139, was owned by Tropical Arctic Logistics Ltd.

“The pilot was compelled to land between Benin and Ore in an unscheduled diversion to pick up someone,” Adurogboye said. He said the findings from the probe will be made public as soon as it is concluded.

Femi Adeniji from Tropical Arctic Logistics Ltd told the BBC that he didn't understand why the video had caused such a fuss.

The company stated that it is common for them to respond to emergency situations. Apparently, the billionaire's driver had panicked as his boss is said to have been experiencing high blood pressure.

It is said that a doctor who was also stuck in the traffic jam had begun attending to the man.

Header Image Credit: BBC