The Cross River state government has disowned a viral image of a purported Cally Air advert about in-flight comfort and safety.
Cally Air is a Nigerian airline owned by the Cross River government.
The advert went viral on social media amid a controversy involving Comfort Emmanson, a passenger, and Ibom Air.
Videos shared on X over the weekend showed Emmanson hitting a flight attendant and confronting airport security officials.
Michael Achimugu, director of public affairs and consumer protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), attributed the drama to the passenger’s failure to comply with flight protocols but some accounts claimed the flight attendant harassed Emmanson shortly before take-off.
In the initial videos shared, Emmanson’s shirt was noticeably torn amid the dispute.
Afterwards, more videos surfaced showing the passenger being forcefully dragged off the aircraft, with her clothes torn and her breasts fully exposed as she made to conceal them.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) subsequently called for the prosecution of those who captured and published the “indecent” video of the passenger.
The NBA said it would provide Emmanson with pro bono legal support to ensure her rights are protected and that she obtains redress for the violations suffered.
On Wednesday, an image purportedly from Cally Air — mimicking an offer of better service than Ibom Air — went viral.
Ibom Air, owned by neighbouring Akwa Ibom state, and Cally Air are the only indigenous airlines in Nigeria’s south-south region.
“Your boobs are safe with us, fly with or without bra,” the advert read.
The image was widely shared on X and has since gathered hundreds of thousands of views across accounts.
“Did Cally Air actually design this?” one user asked, with another alleging: “Cross River new Airline throws shades at Ibom Airline.”
Some AI-generated videos were also shared on WhatsApp showing an air host echoing the same sentiment in the viral ad.
In the videos, the message was also emblazoned on a “Cally Air” plane.
CROSS RIVER, VALUE JET REPLY
Edem Darlington, deputy chief press secretary to the governor of Cross River, distanced the state government from the ad.
“It is not an official flier from Cally Air nor from the state government. That was created by some overzealous social media influencers in Cross River,” Darlington told TheCable on Thursday.
However, he noted that though Cross River owns Cally Air, the airline is managed by Value Jet.
When TheCable contacted Value Jet, the airline’s customer service said it had no knowledge of the ad.
TheCable also spoke with Imah Eno Utum, Cross River commissioner for aviation, who described the image as “malicious”.
“The advert couldn’t have come from Cally Air. If we want to do an advertisement we should be able to go to a proper media house and put up an ad there,” Utum said.
“People just went and put up mischievous, malicious jokes using Cally Air. It’s unacceptable and if we know the source we’re going to sue, we won’t waste time.
“It’s very unfortunate that people will be so insensitive to use something that is not palatable for a joke.
“I can tell you, we’re not part of it, it cannot come from our own stables. It’s not possible, we don’t have any hand in it and we’re not going to be associated with such callous jokes—that is our disclaimer.”
