Aviation minister Keyamo threatens to ban any airline who flies KWAM 1

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has restated the ban on popular Fuji musician King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, warning that any airline, both domestic and international, that flies him would be banned.

KWAM1 was reported to have refused to surrender his flask when questioned by ValueJet officials who suspected it contained alcohol. He was said to have insisted on travelling with the full flask.

The altercation degenerated after he allegedly spilled the content of the flask.

“The passenger allegedly refused and spilled the contents of the flask on the officer, which turned out to be alcohol. The flight captain intervened but faced similar resistance. After confirming that boarding was complete, she instructed the closure of the aircraft door,” Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said in a statement.

A viral video showed that when the musician was denied boarding, he stood in front of the aircraft to prevent it from taxiing while some airline officials pleaded with him to leave the tarmac. The video also showed the pilots trying to taxi slowly, taking care to avoid hitting the singer.

On Wednesday, the NCAA suspended two ValueJet pilots for unsafe behaviour at the airport during the incident.

In a post on X, Keyamo said the NCAA was correct to suspend the two erring pilots, but he faulted the one-sided judgment, insisting that the unruly passenger be dealt with too.

Keyamo said the act of blocking a moving aircraft by the singer was unacceptable and reprehensible.

Keyamo said, “Contrary to what the agents of Kwam 1 has said, he constantly moved his position on the tarmac to actually blocked the aircraft from taxiing to take position on the runway for take-off. This is totally unacceptable behaviour.

“The issue of whether he was carrying water or alcohol is not even in issue at this point. It is the physical blockage of the aircraft from taxiing that is the reprehensible conduct here which akin to a hostage situation.

“In the circumstances, 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 and anyone who flouts this directive risk the withdrawal of their operating license.”

The singer is hugely popular in southwest Nigeria, where his traditional fuji music — a staple among the Yoruba ethnic group — originated.

A staunch supporter of President Bola Tinubu, he has a close relationship with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and has performed at many of the party’s rallies across the country.

He also performed at the presidential inaugural ball when Tinubu was sworn in May 2023.