The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has reaffirmed the flight ban placed on renowned Fuji musician King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (popularly known as KWAM 1), issuing a stern warning that any airline, domestic or international, that transports the singer will face immediate suspension of its operating license.
Incident That Sparked the Controversy
The directive comes in the wake of a high-profile altercation at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, involving KWAM 1 and officials of ValueJet Airlines.
According to reports, the dispute began when airline security questioned the singer over the contents of a flask he was carrying, suspecting it contained alcohol. KWAM 1 allegedly refused to surrender the flask and insisted on boarding the aircraft with it.
The situation reportedly escalated after the singer spilled the contents on a ValueJet security officer. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) later confirmed that the liquid was indeed alcohol.
“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,”
— NCAA Statement
Viral Video Shows Singer Blocking Aircraft
A video of the incident, which quickly went viral on social media, captured KWAM 1 standing directly in front of the aircraft on the tarmac, physically preventing it from taxiing toward the runway. Several airline officials were seen pleading with him to step aside, while the pilots attempted to taxi slowly to avoid hitting him.
The standoff brought flight operations to a temporary halt and drew widespread condemnation over the breach of airport safety protocols.
NCAA and Ministerial Action
In response to the incident, the NCAA announced the suspension of two ValueJet pilots for what it described as “unsafe behaviour” during the confrontation.
While acknowledging the NCAA’s action against the pilots, Minister Keyamo criticized what he called a “one-sided judgment”, insisting that the passenger involved must also face consequences.
“Contrary to what the agents of Kwam 1 have said, he constantly moved his position on the tarmac to actually block the aircraft from taxiing to take position on the runway for take-off. This is totally unacceptable behaviour,” Keyamo stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
The Minister described the singer’s conduct as “akin to a hostage situation”, stressing that the issue was not about whether the flask contained water or alcohol but about the physical obstruction of an aircraft in motion.
No-Fly Directive and Wider Implications
Keyamo has now ordered the NCAA to place KWAM 1 on a “No-Fly” list, pending a full investigation, a measure similar to the temporary ban placed on the suspended pilots.
“All airlines, both domestic and international, should immediately be informed of this directive and anyone who flouts this directive risks the withdrawal of their operating licence,” Keyamo warned.
The order is binding on all commercial airlines, and industry analysts say it marks one of the most stringent disciplinary actions ever taken against a high-profile passenger in Nigeria’s aviation history.
A Popular Cultural Figure with Political Ties
KWAM 1 remains one of Nigeria’s most celebrated Fuji musicians, especially in the Southwest, where the traditional music genre has deep cultural roots among the Yoruba ethnic group.
The artist has long-standing political ties, particularly with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He has performed at numerous APC rallies nationwide and was a prominent entertainer at Tinubu’s presidential inaugural ball in May 2023.
The aviation ban, however, marks a serious turning point in his public image, potentially affecting his ability to perform at international shows and engagements in the coming months.
