Keyamo orders probes into Air Peace, Oshiomhole clash

Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has directed a probe of the clash between Air Peace and Adams Oshiomole, the senator representing Edo North.

He gave this charge in a statement released on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday.

This comes after Air Peace and Oshiomhole engaged in a war of words following an incident on Wednesday morning at Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1, Zulu Hall.

Air Peace had accused the senator of violence and disruption of a flight on Wednesday.

However, Oshiomhole denied Air Peace’s claim, alleging that the airline prevented him and others from boarding despite completing online check-in.

Oshiomhole further accused Air Peace of extortion and other unwholesome practices.

But Air Peace denied Oshiomole’s allegation.

He also urged parties to exercise restraint in their public utterances regarding the incident.

“In the wake of the incident at the Lagos Airport last Wednesday involving AIRPEACE Airline and His Excellency, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, I have been in direct contact with both parties since that morning,” Keyamo said.

“Whilst appealing to both sides to halt the public accusations and counter-accusations, 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 issue in such a way as to guide future conduct in similar situations.”

Meanwhile, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has expressed dismay over the conduct of Oshiomhole at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, saying it is unacceptable and another example of the growing trend of unruly passenger behaviour experienced by domestic carriers.

Professor Obiora Okonkwo, spokesperson for the AON, also expressed sadness that two days after the incident, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had yet to reveal what truly happened.

The Spokesperson for the AON spoke to journalists in Lagos during an event where United Nigeria Airlines announced its integration into the SIBAS Global Distribution System (GDS).

He said: “As much as we appreciate and understand that every passenger has a right, your right is only limited to what is allowed within the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the aviation industry.

“There is no amount of disappointment that gives the right to self-help. We have been talking about unruly behaviour; what you saw was a typical case of unruly behaviour. It is not acceptable. Air Peace is a respected airline; no matter what you say about it, they carry 40 to 50% of the domestic passengers. As such, they deserve respect. It is somebody’s investment. It is not right to demonise the airline. It is way too far from discussing the issues. We have looked at the things he (Oshiomhole) said, and we do not see any logic. There is no airline who will not want to carry its passengers. We go through a lot and bend ourselves to satisfy our passengers.”