By Amofokhai Williams
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, has taken decisive action following a heated altercation at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, involving popular musician Kwam 1 and the crew of a ValueJet aircraft.
The incident, which Keyamo described as “a case of temporary loss of sanity and control on both sides which could have led to serious fatalities,” has prompted significant regulatory measures.
According to Keyamo’s statement on X, Kwam 1 “CONSTANTLY moved his position on the tarmac to ACTUALLY BLOCK the aircraft from taxiing to take position on the runway for take-off.”
The minister labeled this behaviour as “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE” and “reprehensible conduct,” likening it to a hostage situation.
Video footage, which Keyamo referenced and attached to his post, reportedly shows Kwam 1’s actions obstructing the aircraft.
Keyamo also criticized the response of the ValueJet crew, particularly the Captain and Pilot, stating, “NO AMOUNT of provocation should make the Captain and Pilot of an aircraft begin to taxi without ensuring that the security personnel have safely moved an unruly passenger away that is standing in front of an aircraft.”
He emphasized that both parties breached safety protocols set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
In response, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has temporarily suspended the licenses of the Captain and Pilot pending a full investigation.
Keyamo commended this action but questioned the NCAA’s impartiality, noting, “I have also questioned their sense of justice in only acting against one party and not the other party. What applies to the goose must also to the gander. That is one of the tenets of Justice I have preached all my life.”
To ensure balanced accountability, Keyamo directed the NCAA to place Kwam 1 on a no-fly list pending further investigation.
He instructed that “ALL AIRLINES, both domestic and International should IMMEDIATELY be informed of this directive and anyone who flouts this directive risk withdrawal of their operating licence.”
This move underscores the minister’s commitment to upholding aviation safety and fairness in addressing violations.
The incident has sparked discussions about passenger conduct and crew responsibilities at Nigerian airports.
