The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo (SAN), has ordered that all airlines, domestic and international, be warned against flying Fuji music icon, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM1, stating unequivocally that any airline that flouts this directive risks a ban from Nigerian airspace.
This development follows a serious breach of aviation security and safety protocols involving the musician at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, during an attempted ValueJet flight to Lagos on Tuesday, August 5.
According to a statement issued by the minister, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had earlier placed a six-month no-fly restriction on KWAM1 after video evidence showed him obstructing a ValueJet aircraft from taxiing on the runway — an act Keyamo equated to a “hostage situation.”
The minister further revealed that the musician attempted to board the flight with a liquid substance, which airport security flagged. This led to a confrontation involving ValueJet crew and KWAM1. In response, the pilots of the aircraft violated safety procedures by initiating taxiing without clearance, despite the ongoing altercation.
While the pilots have since been suspended by the NCAA pending a full investigation, Keyamo criticised what he termed an imbalanced disciplinary approach, urging equal treatment for all involved.
He stated:
“From all the details so far received, my preliminary impression is that it was obviously a case of temporary loss of sanity and control on both sides which could have led to serious fatalities.”
He added that KWAM1’s repeated movement on the tarmac to block the aircraft was not only dangerous but entirely unacceptable under international aviation norms.
“The physical blockage of the aircraft from taxiing is reprehensible conduct. This is akin to a hostage situation,” he stated.
While reiterating the need for adherence to International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) safety protocols, the minister criticised the pilots for acting irresponsibly in the face of provocation.
“No amount of provocation should make a pilot begin to taxi while an unruly passenger stands in front of an aircraft. Both sides breached standard safety protocol.”
Keyamo confirmed he had directed the NCAA to officially place KWAM1 on a no-fly list pending further investigation, with strict instructions that all airlines be notified.
“Any airline, local or foreign, that dares to transport KWAM1 in or out of Nigeria will have its operating licence reviewed and may be suspended entirely,” he warned.
The minister concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to safety, fairness and accountability in the aviation sector, stating that no individual, regardless of status, is above the law.
