The umbrella association of indigenous carriers – Airlines Operators of Nigeria, has condemned the recent actions of Senator Adams Oshiomhole at the Lagos airport, describing it as unruly and unacceptable.
This came as the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has ordered a full-scale investigation into the matter and directed all aviation agencies to exercise restraint.
On Wednesday, Oshiomhole confronted officials of Air Peace over the alleged extortion of Nigerian passengers. The situation escalated when the senator was reported to have missed a flight, which he claimed was due to alleged racketeering by airline officials.
Air Peace claimed that Oshiomhole arrived at the airport late, but the senator said he, along with a crowd of other angry passengers, saw airline staff clearing passengers who arrived later.
Oshiomhole claimed that about 20 to 30 other passengers faced the same treatment, with airline staff demanding an additional N109,100 to reschedule them for the next flight.
“They tried to give me special treatment, but I refused. What about the others who can’t afford that amount? It seems they are selling tickets at higher rates at the counter, disregarding those who booked earlier. That’s racketeering,” the senator claimed. Air Peace denied this claim.
Reacting to the development on Friday, the spokesperson of the Airlines Operators of Nigeria, Prof Obiora Okonkwo, described Oshiomole’s conduct at the airport as unruly, adding that his attitude was unacceptable.
“AON has had enough frustration and distractions in trying to offer services to Nigerians. Meanwhile, the one that just happened with the high-profile Nigerian is another distraction to us. We have taken an interest in all of the press statements released by the distinguished senator, and AON also had a full briefing from Air Peace on this incident.
“As much as we understand and appreciate the fact that every passenger has a right, it is only limited to what is allowed by ICAO and the aviation industry. There is no amount of disappointment, if at all, from any airline that should lead you to self-help. What happened is a typical example of unruly behaviour. That is not acceptable, Air Peace is a respectable airline, they carry 40-50 per cent of all the domestic passengers, and they deserve respect.”
Aviation Minister Keyamo has called for a full-scale investigation into the matter. “I have directed all aviation agencies to exercise restraint and adhere to the principle of hearing all sides before drawing conclusions,” the minister stated in a statement via his X handle.
Amid growing public exchanges between the two parties, Keyamo appealed for calm and urged both sides to desist from further accusations and counter-accusations.
Meanwhile, the senator said AON’s words are not different from what Air Peace had said, describing the association’s reaction as needless.
“I have got work to do and I won’t be joining issues with them, I will write my detailed response because all these are not about me but about the Nigerian people. I could have just gotten on the next flight and just left, but who will save the other people from extortion and maltreatment? I will respond as appropriate,” he stated.
Experts react
Commenting on the issue, Group Capt John Ojikutu described the senator’s actions as an abuse of the rights of the responsible aviation authorities and protocols.
He said, “Oshiomole’s action is an abuse of the rights of the responsible aviation authorities, none of which he belongs to, and I am hoping the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority will take the appropriate action against him. What he did is a serious abuse of the airport security protocols and programmes, which FAAN must take before the NCAA and the ministry.
He said a former minister from the South-West did something similar in 2007 while boarding BA to London. “He was denied boarding because he refused the secondary screening, which went public.
“I told him then that if the then President, Olusegun Obasanjo, did what he did on BA, while not on an official trip to the UK and without the presence of the British High Commissioner to welcome him on board, he would be denied boarding. Let someone tell our political office holders that a violation of aviation security is a threat to national security.”
On the other hand, Capt Muhammed Badamosi stated that the airline should be ashamed of the development, explaining that since the senator had been checked in online, he should have been allowed to board. He emphasised that allowing him to board after checking in online is an airport standard operating procedure for airlines
Badamosi explained, “We have heard both sides of the story. The two stories don’t appear to agree with each other. Therefore, we need an unbiased version of the incident. However, this is my observation from the story of Oshiomhole. He did an online check-in, and his flight was confirmed. He arrived at the airport when the check-in desk was not closed, and the boarding gate couldn’t have been closed.
“It’s a standard airport procedure for airlines. If this is not the standard procedure, then how do we explain the ‘last call’ for check-in passengers sometimes at the scheduled departure time for an aircraft? Online checked passengers don’t need to queue with those who have yet to check in. There should be a separate desk for them.
“As far as I know, Oshiomhole shouldn’t have been denied the flight. The airline should be ashamed of itself for making a show of this incident. There was a total disrespect to an eminent person as if they had been waiting for the day to humiliate him.”
The pilot added that on several occasions, the airline had delayed or even cancelled flights for reasons, calling on the authority to investigate the development.
“The airline has forgotten about how many times they have delayed or cancelled their flights due to the agony on those days. I believe that the corruption in the country is responsible for this behaviour of the airline’s staff. So, Air Peace is not exempt. This case must be investigated, and the NCAA must be involved,” Badamosi insisted.
