Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior and a prominent voice in Nigeria’s political landscape, has firmly denied claims that he disrupted airport operations, stating instead that his actions were a response to what he described as “systemic extortion and poor customer service” perpetrated by local airlines, particularly Air Peace.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, the former Edo State Governor and former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress emphasized that he refused preferential treatment in protest of what he called unjust practices that many Nigerians regularly face.
Oshiomhole recounted a recent experience at the airport where he said he chose not to accept special assistance from airline staff when they recognized him.
According to him, to do so would have been to overlook the plight of ordinary passengers, many of whom, he asserted, are treated with disregard and subjected to arbitrary and exploitative airline policies. “If I had allowed the operators to address my problem, I would have boarded the flight,” he noted, but he chose to resist in solidarity with those who do not enjoy similar privileges.
Air Peace had earlier released a statement accusing the senator of disrupting airport operations after missing a scheduled flight. The airline claimed Oshiomhole had arrived late for Flight P47120, scheduled for 6:30 a.m., and that his conduct caused unnecessary disturbance.
In his rebuttal, the senator presented documents and videos as evidence, detailing how he arrived at the airport on Tuesday by 6:10 p.m. for a 6:50 p.m. flight but was denied boarding despite meeting the airline’s stated check-in deadline of 30 minutes before departure.
He recounted that although his luggage was already checked in, he was denied a boarding pass, while other passengers who arrived later were allowed to proceed. Despite possessing business class tickets for himself and his aide—who was eventually allowed to board—Oshiomhole was turned away. He said this forced him to incur hotel expenses totaling ₦1.5 million for himself and two stranded Ghanaian travelers.
Attempting to fly again the next morning, the senator said he arrived before 6:00 a.m. for the 6:30 a.m. flight, having checked in online the night before. Nonetheless, he was once again barred from boarding. “I got there at about five minutes past six. They told me the counter was closed. I showed them the evidence of my online check-in. They said the gate had closed, yet I saw other passengers still being processed.”
He explained that the confusion stemmed from a sudden change in the check-in policy—from 30 to 45 minutes before departure—without prior notice to passengers. He described this shift as part of a broader pattern of “arbitrary application” of policies, which he argued is aimed at pushing out passengers who had booked earlier and replacing them with those willing to pay inflated, last-minute ticket prices.
Oshiomhole detailed a specific incident involving a woman with a six-month-old baby, who had purchased a ticket for ₦146,000 and arrived on time, only to be told she was late. While she was being denied boarding, others were being allowed to purchase tickets on the spot for as much as ₦250,000. “That is not policy enforcement; it is extortion,” Oshiomhole insisted, arguing that airlines like Air Peace are capitalizing on passengers’ desperation and lack of regulatory protection.
He also explained that his presence at the counter during the commotion was not to escalate matters but to stand by fellow passengers who were left stranded and ignored. “I didn’t disrupt anything,” he stated. “I remained calm but firm. I refused to be helped because others were being denied their rights. I said, ‘Don’t help me—enforce the same rule for everyone.’” He was offered personalized assistance due to his status, but rejected it to draw attention to what he described as the routine mistreatment of everyday travelers.
Continuing his account, Oshiomhole mentioned that a senior airport officer offered him access to a private lounge to escape the crowd, but passengers urged him to stay. He recounted how he ended up giving ₦500,000 to assist the woman with the infant, who was required to pay ₦109,100 on top of her initial ticket just to be rebooked.
Describing the chaotic situation at the terminal, the senator emphasized that passengers who had booked in advance or checked in online were being sidelined for new buyers paying far higher fares. He called attention to the presence of security forces, including DSS and Air Force personnel, who eventually intervened in an attempt to restore order.
Oshiomhole demanded accountability from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), questioning its effectiveness and calling for federal intervention. “This is ruthless, primitive capitalism,” he said. “How can you profit from your own inefficiency while Nigerians remain unprotected?”
He expressed deep concern over what he views as an escalating crisis in the aviation sector, warning that unchecked exploitation and frustration could lead to more serious public backlash. “When people lose hope, no bullet can stop them,” he warned. “The government has a duty to protect its people from this level of exploitation.”
In conclusion, Senator Oshiomhole maintained that his actions were not an attempt to disrupt but to highlight a systemic injustice that many Nigerians endure in silence. He pledged to continue advocating for accountability and fairness in public services, especially those that directly affect the well-being of the average citizen.
What you should know
Senator Oshiomhole’s clash with Air Peace stemmed from what he described as discriminatory and exploitative airline practices.
He presented evidence and testimonies to show that passengers who had checked in on time were denied boarding while new, higher-priced tickets were sold on the spot. Rejecting VIP privileges, he stood with stranded passengers and called on regulators and the federal government to address what he sees as systemic failings in Nigeria’s aviation industry.
