Aviation Minister orders Kwam1 to be placed on no-fly list following Airport incident
By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed the immediate placement of popular Fuji musician, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (Kwam1), on a no-fly list following an altercation at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The directive, announced via the Minister’s official social media handle on Thursday, follows a reported confrontation between Kwam1 and staff of ValueJet on Tuesday, August 5.
According to Keyamo, video evidence and reports from aviation authorities suggest that Kwam1 engaged in what he described as “recalcitrant behaviour” by obstructing an aircraft on the tarmac, an action he likened to a “hostage situation.”
“Contrary to what Kwam1’s agents have claimed, he constantly moved around on the tarmac to deliberately block the aircraft from taxiing to take position on the runway for takeoff,” the Minister stated. “This is totally unacceptable behaviour.”
Keyamo clarified that the issue was not whether the musician was in possession of alcohol or water, but rather his physical interference with aircraft movement, a serious breach of aviation safety protocols.
The Minister further condemned the ValueJet pilot’s decision to attempt taxiing while the runway was still obstructed, stating that both parties violated International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) safety standards.
“No amount of provocation should make the captain of an aircraft begin taxiing without ensuring that security personnel have safely removed an unruly passenger,” Keyamo added.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has already suspended the licences of the pilot and captain involved in the incident. While commending the NCAA for its swift action, Keyamo criticised what he termed an “unbalanced response” and insisted that Kwam1 must also be held accountable.
“What applies to the goose must also apply to the gander,” he stated. “I will not sit idly by and allow this to pass.”
In light of these developments, Keyamo directed that Kwam1 be placed on a no-fly list pending a full investigation. All domestic and international airlines operating in Nigeria have been ordered to comply with the directive immediately or risk having their operating licences withdrawn.
Further updates are expected as the investigation continues.
