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Keyamo Orders Probe into Oshiomhole–Air Peace Airport Incident
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed aviation agencies to launch a full investigation into the altercation between Senator Adams Oshiomhole and staff of domestic airline, Air Peace, at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 (Zulu Hall).
The incident, which occurred on the morning of Wednesday, June 11, reportedly involved a dispute over boarding procedures that resulted in a public exchange between the former Edo State governor and airline staff. The matter has since drawn widespread attention and triggered conflicting narratives from both parties.
In a statement released on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday, June 13, Keyamo said he has been in contact with both sides since the event and has instructed relevant aviation agencies to gather all available evidence and submit a report to his office.
“Whilst appealing to both sides to halt the public accusations and counter-accusations,” Keyamo wrote, “I am further 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 problem in such a way as to guide future conduct in similar situations.”
Keyamo also emphasized the importance of neutrality and due process, directing officials to “exercise restraint in jumping to conclusions in line with the time-honoured legal principle of ‘hear all sides’ before reaching judgment.”
According to Air Peace, Senator Oshiomhole arrived at the airport at approximately 6:10 a.m. for a flight to Abuja scheduled to depart at 6:30 a.m. The airline claims boarding had closed in accordance with its on-time departure policy, and accused the senator of disrupting flight operations and exhibiting “unruly conduct” after being denied access to the aircraft.
In contrast, Senator Oshiomhole alleged that despite having checked in online and arriving well ahead of the flight’s scheduled departure, he and several other passengers were unjustly denied boarding. He accused the airline of operating a double standard, claiming that while early passengers were left stranded, seats were allegedly resold at premium rates to late arrivals.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and other relevant agencies are expected to be involved in the probe. The findings could lead to disciplinary action against either the airline or the senator, depending on the outcome.
Aviation experts say the incident highlights ongoing tensions between airlines and high-profile passengers in Nigeria, and could prompt clearer guidelines on gate closure procedures and passenger rights.
No specific timeline was provided for the conclusion of the investigation, but similar past probes have typically been concluded within two to four weeks.
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