Air Peace, Oshiomhole in war of words over airport showdown

Air Peace, Oshiomhole in war of words over airport showdown

The management of Air Peace airline has accused Adams Oshiomhole, a former governor of Edo State and current Senator, of disrupting its operations at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) terminal 1 in Lagos after missing his flight.

It said in a statement that the incident occured in the early hours of Wednesday, June 11.

Oshiomhole, in his reaction, after a video surfaced on social media showing him in a heated exchange with an airport official, said the commotion at the domestic terminal was sparked by Air Peace’s decision to prevent passengers from boarding while allegedly reselling seats at inflated prices to others on the spot.

The Air Peace statement said Oshiomhole arrived at the airport around 6:10 a.m for flight which was scheduled to depart Lagos for Abuja at 6:30 a.m on Wednesday, June 11.

By the time he arrived, boarding had already closed, and the flight departed on time.

As a result, Oshiomhole reportedly reacted angrily by disrupting airport activities.

The senator was accused of physically assaulting Air Peace officials and forcibly blocking the terminal entrance, thus preventing other passengers from entering.

Air Peace, in the statement, condemned what it described as an ‘unruly behaviour’ and reaffirmed its strict zero-tolerance policy toward violence or aggression directed at its staff or passengers.

The statement read, “Air Peace strongly condemns the unruly conduct of a prominent Nigerian politician who disrupted airport operations on the morning of Wednesday, June 11, 2025.

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“The prominent individual in question arrived at Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 (Zulu Hall) at approximately 06:10 AM for Flight P47120 scheduled to depart Lagos for Abuja at 06:30am.

“In line with our standard on-time departure policy, the boarding process had closed, and the flight departed as scheduled.

“Upon being informed of the missed flight, the politician resorted to violence, physically assaulting our staff and forcefully barricading the terminal’s entrance.

“He went as far as sealing the entry gate and manning the access point, effectively obstructing other passengers from gaining entry into the terminal.

“This unacceptable behaviour caused significant disruption to ongoing operations and affected numerous travelers scheduled for various flights.

“To minimize further inconvenience, Air Peace swiftly activated an operational contingency plan to board affected passengers through an alternate terminal, ensuring the continuity of their travel plans.

“We are deeply saddened that such a high-profile figure displayed conduct so unbecoming and disruptive to fellow passengers and our personnel.

“Air Peace maintains a zero-tolerance stance on violence or any form of aggression against our staff and passengers.

“We urge all guests, to remain civil and cooperative at all times.

“Aviation operations are bound by strict timelines and safety protocols, and we remain committed to upholding these standards while delivering safe and timely services to the Nigerian public.

“Air Peace continues to stand for discipline, integrity, and respect for due process.

“No individual, no matter how influential, is above these values.”

Meanwhile, Oshiomhole has given an account of what transpired at the Airport Terminal 1, Zulu Hall.

He narrated how passengers, including himself, were prevented from boarding an Air Peace flight to Abuja despite having checked in online.

The senator said,

“I booked Air Peace… They delayed the flight for over five hours. In the end, they announced a cancellation. I had to get another ticket. Yesterday, I booked a flight for 6:30 a.m., which is their first flight today. I booked and asked them to check me in online, which I did, along with two other Ghanaians who met me in Lagos. We checked in online just to avoid the last-minute issues I’ve had with them a couple of times.

“I got there at about five minutes past six. They told me the counter was closed. I told them, ‘No, I’ve already checked in.’ I showed them the evidence of my online check-in. Even before then, they had asked if I had checked in, and I told them yes, and that I had no luggage. They looked at it but still said the gate had been closed. Meanwhile, I noticed they were still taking other people in.

“So I asked, ‘How can you close boarding for a 6:30 flight at 6:05? What is the purpose of online check-in, then?’ If I had to go through another check-in process, then what’s the point of checking in online?

“While speaking to them, I saw many men and women who had been there even before me, with similar experiences. Basically, they were selling tickets on the spot at higher prices. I’ll give you an example. A lady bought her ticket for N146,000 online. She arrived at the airport at 5:55 a.m. for the 6:30 a.m. flight, after the gatemen had delayed her.

“They told her she was late and that the counter had closed for check-in. She said that was impossible, as it wasn’t even 6:00 a.m. They told her she would be put on the next flight. She protested, saying, ‘Why? Put me on this flight.’ But they told her the flight was full and she would have to wait.

“Meanwhile, the airline was selling tickets on the spot for between N200,000 and N300,000. To take advantage of the situation, they discouraged those who had bought tickets online at lower rates and sold to people willing to pay more.”

Air Peace, Oshiomhole in war of words over airport showdown