Air Peace And Senator Oshiomhole Clash Over Disruptive Conduct At Lagos Airport.
A heated confrontation at Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 (Zulu Hall) in Lagos has sparked a public row between Nigeria’s leading airline, Air Peace, and Senator Adams Oshiomhole, the former Edo State Governor and current Edo North Senator. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, 11 June 2025, has led to accusations of unruly behaviour, extortion, and poor customer service, with both parties trading sharp rebuttals.
According to Air Peace, the incident began when Senator Oshiomhole arrived at approximately 06:10 AM for Flight P47120, scheduled to depart Lagos for Abuja at 06:30 AM. The airline claims Oshiomhole missed the flight due to his late arrival and reacted by disrupting operations, including blocking the terminal entrance, climbing onto the baggage conveyor belt, and inciting other passengers against staff. In a statement titled “Unruly Conduct by Prominent Politician at Lagos Airport: Air Peace Reaffirms Zero Tolerance for Violence,” the airline condemned Oshiomhole’s actions as “violent, unbecoming, unfortunate, and above all, shameful,” causing significant delays and inconvenience to other travellers. Air Peace has called on the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to release CCTV footage to clarify the events, asserting that its strict adherence to on-time performance prevented any preferential treatment.
Oshiomhole, however, tells a different story. Addressing journalists in Abuja, he denied disrupting operations, claiming he was protesting systemic extortion and poor customer service by Air Peace. He alleged that despite checking in online at 19:46 the previous evening and arriving before 06:00 AM, he and other passengers, including two Ghanaians, were denied boarding. Oshiomhole accused the airline of reselling seats at inflated prices of N200,000 to N300,000 to walk-in passengers, while those with pre-booked tickets were turned away. He further claimed that on the previous evening, despite arriving 40 minutes early for a 18:50 flight with a business class ticket, he was denied boarding while his aide was allowed through, forcing him to incur a N1.5 million hotel bill to accommodate himself and the stranded Ghanaians. “I stood up against their sharp practices, not for myself, but for all passengers,” Oshiomhole insisted.
The airline refuted Oshiomhole’s extortion claims as “blatant lies,” challenging him to provide evidence of any passenger being extorted. Air Peace stated that the flight departed with over 30 empty seats, underscoring that it would have been in their interest to accommodate late passengers but prioritised their on-time policy. “The Senator’s accusations are defamatory, and his conduct caused chaos,” the airline’s statement read, noting that they activated a contingency plan to board affected passengers through an alternate terminal to minimise disruption.
The incident has ignited public debate, with social media posts reflecting mixed sentiments. Some Nigerians expressed outrage at Oshiomhole’s alleged behaviour, arguing that as a senator, he should model civility, while others supported his claims, citing frequent complaints about airline practices in Nigeria. One X user remarked, “Oshiomhole caused serious problems at MM1 this morning,” while another questioned Air Peace’s operations, echoing the senator’s concerns about passenger treatment.
The clash has drawn attention to broader issues in Nigeria’s aviation sector, with Oshiomhole lodging a formal complaint with the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, accusing Air Peace of racketeering. As the controversy unfolds, Air Peace’s call for CCTV footage may provide clarity, but for now, the incident underscores tensions between public figures and service providers in Nigeria’s bustling aviation industry. Both sides remain resolute, with Air Peace urging passengers to respect safety protocols and Oshiomhole vowing to expose unfair practices.
