The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority to place popular Fuji musician, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, widely known as KWAM 1, on a no-fly list following a safety breach at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The directive, issued on Thursday, also mandates the NCAA to alert all domestic and international airlines of the minister’s instruction, warning that any airline that violates it risks losing its operating licence.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, August 5, reportedly involved KWAM 1 and two pilots from ValueJet Airlines.
Following the confrontation, the licences of the aircraft’s captain, Oluranti Ogoyi, and first officer, Ivan Oloba, were temporarily suspended by the NCAA.
In a statement posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, @fkeyamo, the Minister described the situation as a serious breakdown of protocol by both the airline crew and the musician.
“From all the details so far received, my preliminary impression is that it was obviously a case of temporary loss of sanity and control on both sides, which could have led to serious fatalities,” Keyamo stated.
Contrary to claims from the artist’s team, Keyamo alleged that KWAM 1 persistently moved around on the airport tarmac, eventually blocking the aircraft from taxiing toward the runway.
“This is totally unacceptable behaviour. Whether he was carrying water or alcohol is not the issue here,” Keyamo said. “Physically obstructing an aircraft from taxiing amounts to a serious security risk akin to a hostage situation. The actual video footage showing this recalcitrant behaviour is hereby attached.”
Keyamo also criticized the pilot and co-pilot for failing to ensure safety protocols were fully observed before attempting to move the aircraft.
“No amount of provocation should lead an aircraft captain to taxi when a person is still in front of the plane. That’s a clear violation of safety procedures as outlined by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO),” he said.
While commending the NCAA for swiftly suspending the flight crew’s licences, the minister questioned the fairness of acting against only one party involved in the incident.
“I will not sit idly by and allow this to pass. What applies to the goose must also apply to the gander. That is one of the tenets of justice I have preached all my life,” Keyamo declared.
“In the circumstance, I have also directed the NCAA to place KWAM 1 on a no-fly list pending further and full investigation, just like the Captain and Pilot. All airlines, both domestic and international, should immediately be informed of this directive.”