FG Orders Probe into Oshiomhole–Air Peace Dispute

The Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo

The Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, has ordered a thorough investigation into the altercation between Air Peace and Senator Adams Oshiomhole at the Lagos airport on Wednesday.

In a statement released on Friday, Keyamo disclosed that he has been in direct contact with both parties since the incident occurred.

“I have also directed the aviation agencies to exercise restraint in drawing conclusions, in line with the time-honoured legal principle of ‘hearing all sides’ before making a judgment,” he wrote via his official X handle.

The minister appealed to both parties to cease public accusations and counter-accusations, and he instructed the relevant agencies to gather evidence and report their findings to his office. He added that the findings would help guide future conduct in similar situations.

Air Peace, in a statement issued on Wednesday, alleged that Senator Oshiomhole, a former Governor of Edo State, arrived at Lagos airport at approximately 6:10 a.m. for a 6:30 a.m. flight to Abuja. By that time, the boarding gate had reportedly closed, and the flight departed as scheduled.

The airline emphasized that passengers are required to arrive well ahead of departure for safety and operational reasons.

Air Peace further alleged that Senator Oshiomhole physically assaulted its staff and forcefully barricaded the entrance to Terminal 1, preventing other passengers from accessing the terminal.

The airline described the senator’s actions as “unacceptable behaviour.”

The Air Peace statement read:
“Air Peace strongly condemns the unruly conduct of a prominent Nigerian politician who disrupted airport operations on the morning of Wednesday, June 11, 2025.

“The individual in question arrived at Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 (Zulu Hall) at approximately 6:10 a.m. for Flight P47120, scheduled to depart Lagos for Abuja at 6:30 a.m.

“In accordance with our standard on-time departure policy, the boarding process had closed, and the flight departed as scheduled.

“Upon being informed of the missed flight, the politician resorted to violence physically assaulting our staff and forcefully barricading the terminal entrance.

He went so far as to seal the entry gate and personally man the access point, thereby obstructing other passengers from entering.

“This unacceptable behaviour caused significant disruption to airport operations and inconvenienced numerous travelers scheduled for other flights.

“To minimize further disruption, Air Peace activated an operational contingency plan, boarding affected passengers through an alternate terminal to ensure the continuity of their travel plans.

“We are deeply saddened that such a high-profile figure exhibited conduct so unbecoming and disruptive toward both fellow passengers and our personnel.”

Air Peace reiterated its zero-tolerance policy toward violence or any form of aggression against its staff or passengers.

“Air Peace continues to uphold discipline, integrity, and respect for due process. No individual, no matter how influential, is above these values,” the airline said.

Oshiomhole Responds: Accuses Air Peace of Ticket Resale Scheme

In response, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North Senatorial District in the Senate, denied all allegations of physical assault and claimed the incident had been exaggerated.

He accused Air Peace of unethical conduct, alleging that the airline routinely denies boarding to ticketed passengers in order to resell their tickets at inflated prices.

For example,” he said, “if you bought a ticket online for ₦100,000, you could be denied boarding upon arrival, only to find your ticket resold for ₦200,000.

According to Oshiomhole, his recent experience with the airline followed a pattern of delayed and cancelled flights. He explained:“I booked Air Peace. They delayed the flight for over five hours. In the end, they announced a cancellation, so I had to purchase another ticket. Yesterday, I booked a 6:30 a.m. flight—Air Peace’s first flight of the day and checked in online along with two Ghanaians who were with me in Lagos. We checked in online specifically to avoid last-minute complications.

“I arrived at about 6:05 a.m., but they told me the counter was closed. I informed them that I had already checked in online and had no luggage. I even showed them proof. Despite this, they insisted the gate had closed while I saw them still admitting other passengers.

“I asked, ‘How can you close boarding for a 6:30 a.m. flight at 6:05 a.m.? What is the point of online check-in if it doesn’t guarantee boarding?’

“There were others there before me who faced the same issue. Air Peace staff were selling tickets on the spot for ₦200,000 to ₦300,000. Meanwhile, those of us who booked online at lower prices were being denied boarding.”

Oshiomhole cited the case of a woman with a six-month-old baby, who had arrived at 5:55 a.m. after being delayed by airport security. She was denied boarding despite arriving on time and was told to wait for the next flight unless she paid for a new ticket.

“They told her the flight was full,” .“yet they were selling tickets on the spot at premium prices. Eventually, they offered to put her on the next flight—but only if she paid an additional ₦109,100. This was on top of the ₦146,000 she had already paid. That’s over ₦250,000 for a one-hour flight.”

According to the senator, multiple passengers were left stranded while only those willing to pay exorbitant last-minute fees were allowed to board.

“When the DSS and Air Force personnel intervened, they saw the situation and stepped in. But the woman still had to pay extra. I ended up sending her ₦500,000 so she could resolve the matter,” he said.

Oshiomhole emphasized that the real issue was not personal but systemic: “Regulatory agencies are compromising. Air Peace is overbooking and then selectively allowing people to board based on who can pay the most.”

He concluded: “The rowdiness wasn’t because of me. It was because many passengers were unjustly denied boarding while others were allowed on the flight after paying more. This must stop.”