By Abiola Olawale
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Festus Keyamo, has issued a strong condemnation of Fuji music icon Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM 1, following an incident at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Keyamo described the musician’s action as “totally unacceptable” and likened them to a hostage situation.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Minister confirmed that he had reviewed reports from aviation agencies and examined video footage of the August 5, 2025 incident, which showed KWAM 1 allegedly obstructing a ValueJet aircraft from taxing.
He said: “Contrary to what the agents of Kwam 1 have said, he constantly moved his position on the tarmac to BLOCK the aircraft from taxing to take position on the runway for take-off.
“This is unacceptable behaviour. It is the physical blockage of the aircraft from taxiing that is the reprehensible conduct here, which is akin to a hostage situation.”
Keyamo also faulted the pilot and captain of the aircraft for proceeding to taxi despite safety concerns, stating that both parties breached standard safety protocol as required by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
“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,” he noted.
The New Diplomat reports that this development is coming after the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority condemned KWAM 1’s conduct.
The Aviation Agency also slammed a six-month flight ban on the popular musician.
Recall that on August 5, 2025, an incident involving KWAM 1 and ValueJet airline staff which happened during boarding procedures for a flight designated to depart from Abuja to Lagos had escalated.
According to reports, the incident escalated when KWAM 1 allegedly refused to surrender a flask containing a liquid—claimed by his team to be water but suspected by airline staff to be alcohol—prompting a confrontation.
The situation spiraled when KWAM 1 reportedly poured the contents on the pilot and physically blocked the aircraft from taxiing.
Also, the NCAA suspended the licenses of the involved pilots, Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and First Officer Ivan Oloba, pending a full investigation.
