Abuja: In a dramatic turn of events at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has ordered the placement of Fuji music icon, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (popularly known as KWAM 1), on a no-fly list.
The directive, issued via Keyamo’s official X account, follows a heated confrontation between the musician and the flight crew of ValueJet Airlines.
According to reports from aviation authorities and video footage reviewed by the minister, KWAM 1 allegedly obstructed a ValueJet aircraft by repeatedly positioning himself on the tarmac, preventing the plane from taxiing toward the runway.
Keyamo described the act as “akin to a hostage situation,” emphasising that the physical blockage posed a serious safety threat.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, August 7, also led to the suspension of the licenses of the aircraft’s captain and first officer—Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and First Officer Ivan Oloba. Keyamo criticised both parties, stating that the pilots breached safety protocols by attempting to taxi while the passenger was still on the tarmac.
“No amount of provocation should make the captain and pilot begin to taxi without ensuring that security personnel have safely moved an unruly passenger away,” he said.
The minister stressed that both KWAM 1 and the ValueJet crew violated international aviation safety standards as outlined by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
He commended the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for its swift action in suspending the pilots but insisted that justice must be evenly applied. “What applies to the goose must also apply to the gander,” Keyamo declared.
All domestic and international airlines have been instructed to enforce the no-fly directive, with Keyamo warning that any operator who fails to comply risks having their operating license revoked.
The incident has sparked widespread debate across aviation and entertainment circles, raising concerns about airport security enforcement and the responsibilities of high-profile passengers.