Airlines Operators of Nigeria condemn Oshiomhole-Air Peace clash as unruly; Aviation Minister Keyamo calls for full-scale investigation into the incident

[dropcap]O[/dropcap]shiomhole Air Peace clash has drawn strong reactions from aviation stakeholders, with the umbrella body of local airlines, Airlines Operators of Nigeria, describing the senator’s conduct at the Lagos airport as unacceptable.

Also read: Adams Oshiomhole slams Air Peace over boarding scandal at Lagos Airport

The drama unfolded after the senator confronted Air Peace staff over alleged racketeering, accusing the airline of extorting passengers and deliberately preventing him and others from boarding.

The altercation occurred on Wednesday, after Senator Adams Oshiomhole reportedly missed a flight at the Lagos airport.

The former Edo State governor alleged that Air Peace officials demanded an additional N109,100 to rebook him and around 30 other passengers, despite earlier reservations. The airline countered the claim, saying he arrived late and missed the standard boarding window.

However, Oshiomhole maintained that passengers who came later were allowed through, suggesting that ticket reselling at inflated prices may have been taking place.

“They tried to give me special treatment, but I refused,” he said. “What about those who can’t afford that amount? That’s racketeering.”

Air Peace denied all allegations, and the matter swiftly escalated into a national talking point. Reacting, the spokesperson of the Airlines Operators of Nigeria, Prof Obiora Okonkwo, said the senator’s actions amounted to unruly behaviour.

“There is no amount of disappointment, if at all, from any airline that should lead you to self-help,” he stated, defending Air Peace as a responsible carrier that handles the majority of Nigeria’s domestic flights.

In response to the growing controversy, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, ordered a full-scale investigation and urged aviation agencies to act with restraint.

“I have directed all aviation agencies to adhere to the principle of hearing all sides before drawing conclusions,” he posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Senator Oshiomhole, however, dismissed AON’s comments, saying they merely echoed Air Peace’s version of events.

“I have work to do and won’t be joining issues with them,” he said. “This is not about me but about Nigerians who face such treatment regularly.”

Aviation experts remain divided. Group Capt John Ojikutu criticised Oshiomhole’s behaviour as a breach of airport security protocols.

“It is a serious abuse that must be addressed by the NCAA and FAAN,” he stated. Drawing parallels with a 2007 incident involving a former minister, he warned that such conduct from political office holders threatens national aviation security.

Conversely, Capt Muhammed Badamosi defended Oshiomhole, insisting that the senator, having checked in online, should not have been denied boarding.

“There was a total disrespect to an eminent person,” he said, arguing that the airline’s staff should be investigated. “This case must be looked into by the NCAA. Corruption in the system is part of the problem.”

Also read: Oshiomhole challenges TV anchor, Reuben Abati, to a street fight

The incident, which began with a missed flight, has now ballooned into a test of accountability within the nation’s aviation sector, pitting airline procedures against the rights and expectations of high-profile passengers and ordinary citizens alike.