The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to place Fuji legend, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (popularly known as Kwam 1), on a no-fly list over a safety breach at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The directive comes days after a tarmac altercation involving Kwam 1 and two pilots of ValueJet Airlines, which led to the suspension of the licences of the pilots, Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and First Officer Ivan Oloba.
Keyamo, in a statement posted on his official X handle (@fkeyamo), condemned the actions of both the musician and the flight crew, describing the situation as a "temporary loss of sanity and control on both sides," which could have resulted in fatalities.
“Contrary to claims by Kwam 1’s representatives, he repeatedly moved around on the tarmac and blocked the aircraft from taxiing to the runway,” Keyamo stated. “That action alone, regardless of whether he held a water bottle or alcohol, is equivalent to a hostage situation and is totally unacceptable.”
The Minister added that the incident violated international aviation safety protocols, noting that while the pilots had been sanctioned, there appeared to be a lopsided approach to justice.
“No amount of provocation justifies a pilot attempting to taxi while a person is still in front of the aircraft,” he said. “Both sides breached ICAO safety protocols. Justice must be even-handed.”
As a result, Keyamo has directed the NCAA to not only continue its investigation but also notify all domestic and international airlines of the no-fly directive against Kwam 1. He warned that any airline that defies the directive risks having its operating licence withdrawn.
