By Ayo Kehinde
The Federal Government has ordered an investigation into the altercation between Air Peace and Senator Adams Oshiomhole at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos on Wednesday.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed in a statement on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday that he has been in direct contact with both parties since the incident occurred.
He urged all aviation agencies to remain neutral and avoid rushing to judgment.
“In the wake of the incident at the Lagos Airport last Wednesday involving Air Peace and His Excellency, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, I have been in direct contact with both parties since that morning.
“I also directed the aviation agencies to exercise restraint in jumping to conclusions, in line with the time-honoured legal principle of ‘hear all sides’ before reaching judgment,” Keyamo said.
The minister called for calm and urged both sides to stop trading accusations in public, pending the outcome of the investigation.
“I am further directing the relevant aviation agencies to thoroughly look into the issue, collect all available evidence, and revert to my office so we can address the matter in a way that guides future conduct in similar situations,” he added.
The confrontation reportedly began after Senator Oshiomhole missed his scheduled Air Peace flight (P47120). According to the airline, he arrived at Terminal 1 (Zulu Hall) around 6:10 a.m., after boarding had closed.
The airline alleged that the senator reacted angrily, blocked the terminal entrance, and disrupted airport operations.
“He went as far as sealing the entry gate and manning the access point, effectively obstructing other passengers from gaining entry into the terminal,” Air Peace stated.
The incident led to delays, forcing the airline to activate a contingency plan to process affected passengers through an alternate terminal.
Air Peace condemned what it described as “unruly” and “unacceptable” conduct by a public figure, restating its zero-tolerance policy for violence or aggression towards its staff and passengers.
While both sides continue to issue conflicting accounts, Keyamo’s intervention marks the beginning of an official review, with the outcome expected to shape future handling of similar incidents in the aviation sector.
