FG orders probe into Lagos Airport incident between Air Peace, Oshiomhole

Abdullateef Fowewe

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has intervened in the escalating dispute between Air Peace airline and Senator Adams Oshiomhole following a disruptive incident at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport last Wednesday.

Keyamo stated on Friday via his X (formerly Twitter) handle that he has been in direct contact with both parties since the morning of the incident and has instructed aviation agencies to “exercise restraint in jumping to conclusions in line with the time-honoured legal principle of ‘hear all sides’ before reaching judgment.”

He appealed for both sides to halt public accusations and directed a thorough investigation to collect evidence for appropriate resolution and future guidance.

The incident involved former Edo state governor missing his Air Peace flight after allegedly arriving late at the terminal.

Air Peace accused the senator of “physically assaulting airline personnel,” sealing off the terminal’s main entrance, and blocking other passengers, which caused operational delays and disruptions.

In response, Oshiomhole denied disrupting operations, instead accusing Air Peace of racketeering, extortion, and unethical treatment of passengers, claiming he was standing against systemic exploitation, Dailyeconomy reported.

Air Peace has challenged Oshiomhole’s allegations, calling on the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to release CCTV footage to prove their version of events and refute claims of extortion and overbooking.

The airline underscored that no tickets were sold after check-in closure and that the flight departed with over 30 empty seats.

However, Keyamo’s intervention aims to ensure a fair and transparent inquiry, stating, “I am directing the relevant aviation agencies to thoroughly look into the issue, collect all available evidence and revert to my office so we can deal with the issue in such a way as to guide future conducts in similar situations”.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has remained officially silent, noting that it will only act upon formal complaints, while the Aviation Minister leads the investigation.