Video: FG orders no-fly directive on Kwam 1 pending probe after ValueJet incident
Abdullateef Fowewe
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has taken decisive action following the August 7, 2025, altercation between popular Fuji musician Kwam 1 (King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal) and ValueJet airline staff at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Video lin: https://x.com/DailyEconews/status/1953447577493319854?t=RKUOJaj_F96-8fEAB3tehA&s=19
Keyamo in a statement on Thursday described the episode as “obviously a case of temporary loss of sanity and control on both sides which could have led to serious fatalities,” stressing the severity of the breach in aviation safety protocols.
Keyamo revealed that contrary to Kwam 1’s camp claims, the musician “CONSTANTLY moved his position on the tarmac to ACTUALLY BLOCK the aircraft from taxiing to take position on the runway for take-off,” behaviour he labeled as “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE” and akin to a hostage situation.
The Minister underscored that whether Kwam 1 was carrying water or alcohol was irrelevant to the core issue of physically obstructing aircraft movement.
However, Keyamo also condemned the flight crew, noting that “NO AMOUNT of provocation should make the Captain and Pilot of an aircraft begin to taxi without ensuring that the security personnel have safely moved an unruly passenger away,” highlighting that both parties violated International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) safety protocols.
In response to the incident, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the licenses of the ValueJet Captain and Pilot pending a full investigation.
However, Keyamo commended this move but questioned the fairness in targeting only one party, stating, “What applies to the goose must also to the gander. That is one of the tenets of Justice I have preached all my life”.
Consequently, the Minister has ordered the NCAA to place Kwam 1 on a NO-FLY list until the investigation concludes.
He directed that “ALL AIRLINES, both domestic and International should IMMEDIATELY be informed of this directive and anyone who flouts this directive risk withdrawal of their operating licence”.
Recall that the incident began with a dispute over a flask of liquid allegedly carried by Kwam 1, which aviation security claimed was alcohol against regulations; his aides insist it was just water.
The confrontation escalated dramatically when Kwam 1 appeared on the tarmac, standing dangerously close to a taxiing aircraft, narrowly avoiding injury.
This incident has raised nationwide concerns about airport security, celebrity privilege, and adherence to safety protocols.
Nevertheless , aviation authorities and ValueJet have launched comprehensive investigations, while the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has condemned any violation of operational integrity irrespective of status.
