In an unprecedented move aimed at restoring discipline and enforcing aviation safety standards, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has come down hard on both music legend King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (Kwam 1) and the crew of ValueJet Airlines, following a dramatic altercation at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Tuesday, August 7, 2025.

According to a press statement issued by the Minister, video evidence and official reports submitted by relevant aviation agencies painted a disturbing picture of a “temporary loss of sanity and control on both sides” that could have led to serious consequences, including possible fatalities.

A Hostage-Like Situation on the Tarmac

The incident reportedly escalated when Kwam 1 repeatedly positioned himself on the tarmac in a manner that blocked the ValueJet aircraft from taxiing to the runway for takeoff. “Contrary to what the agents of Kwam 1 have said,” Keyamo stated, “he constantly moved his position on the tarmac to actually block the aircraft. This is totally unacceptable behaviour.”

The Minister dismissed the argument over whether the Fuji icon was holding water or alcohol during the altercation as irrelevant to the larger issue. “The reprehensible conduct here is the physical blockage of the aircraft — akin to a hostage situation,” he emphasized.

Pilot Also Under Fire

However, Keyamo was equally scathing in his assessment of the actions of the aircraft’s captain and pilot, who began taxiing despite the obvious safety threat. “No amount of provocation should make a captain begin to taxi without ensuring that security personnel have safely moved an unruly passenger away,” he said.

Keyamo stressed that both parties had violated International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) safety protocols. While the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had swiftly moved to suspend the licenses of the pilot and captain involved, the Minister expressed dissatisfaction with what he viewed as a one-sided approach to justice.

Equal Measures for All

“I commend the NCAA for their proactive action,” Keyamo said. “However, I have questioned their sense of justice in only acting against one party. What applies to the goose must also apply to the gander. That is one of the tenets of justice I have preached all my life.”

In a firm directive, the Minister ordered that Kwam 1 be placed on a “No-Fly List” pending the conclusion of a full investigation. He further directed the NCAA to inform all airlines, domestic and international, of the development, warning that any airline that flouts the order risks losing its operating license.

Industry Reactions Awaited

The Minister’s decision has sent ripples through the aviation and entertainment industries alike, raising questions about celebrity behaviour in public spaces and the professional conduct of airline personnel under stress.

As Nigerians await the full findings of the investigation, the incident underscores the critical importance of upholding safety standards and the rule of law — even in situations involving high-profile personalities.

A Clear Message

With this decisive action, Festus Keyamo has not only reaffirmed his zero-tolerance policy on aviation misconduct but also delivered a clear message: no individual, regardless of status, is above the law — especially when public safety is at stake.

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In a remarkable display of the growing confidence in Nigeria’s aviation sector, Air Peace, one of the country’s leading airlines, is steadily becoming the airline of choice for prominent Nigerians traveling abroad. The latest figure to be seen flying with Air Peace on an international route is His Majesty, Dr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Emir of Kano and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

In a video that has garnered widespread attention, Dr. Sanusi is warmly welcomed at the Air Peace counter by none other than Dr. Allen Onyema, the visionary CEO and founder of the airline. This significant moment symbolizes not just the airline’s expanding influence but also its role in promoting national pride and confidence in homegrown enterprises.

Air Peace, founded in 2013, has rapidly ascended the ranks in Africa’s aviation industry, known for its reliability, safety standards, and commitment to customer satisfaction. The airline’s international expansion is a testament to its growing capacity and ambition, offering Nigerians a viable alternative to foreign carriers.

Dr. Sanusi’s choice to fly Air Peace is not just a personal preference but a nod to the airline’s rising profile and its ability to compete on the global stage. It reflects a broader trend where more and more Nigerians, including business leaders, political figures, and celebrities, are opting to support local enterprises that demonstrate excellence and reliability.

Dr. Allen Onyema, who has been at the forefront of Air Peace’s meteoric rise, expressed his gratitude for the trust placed in his airline by such a revered figure as the Emir of Kano. “This is a proud moment for us as a company and as Nigerians,” Onyema stated. “It shows that we are doing something right, and it motivates us to continue raising the bar in the aviation industry.”

As Air Peace continues to expand its international routes and services, it is clear that the airline is not just a domestic success but a growing force in global aviation. The airline’s commitment to excellence and its ability to attract high-profile passengers like His Majesty, Dr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, marks a new chapter in its journey—a chapter that showcases the potential of Nigerian enterprises to make a significant impact both at home and abroad.

The post Rising Profile of Air Peace: Prominent Nigerians Choose Local Airline for International Travel appeared first on The Lagosian Magazine.

The Federal Government of Nigeria may restrict British Airways from operating at the country’s tier-one airports if the United Kingdom fails to honor its Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with Nigeria, according to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo.

During a conference held by the League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) in Lagos on Friday, Keyamo disclosed that the federal government has formally requested that the UK allow Nigerian carriers, particularly Air Peace, to operate flights to Heathrow Airport.

Keyamo stated, “We are working and collaborating with Nigerian carriers to ensure that they are supported. We have already written to the United Kingdom to give Nigerian carriers, especially Air Peace, access to Heathrow Airport, which is a tier-one airport, just as we have British Airways operate to Lagos, our tier-one airport. We may as well give BA Ilorin to operate to.”

Expressing frustration over the UK’s response, Keyamo added, “When we asked for Heathrow Airport, you’re telling us to go to a slot committee. Who does that? I can tell you that Air Peace is on its way to Heathrow away from Gatwick. We will look into so many agreements that we have that are not working in the interest of our airlines.”

Keyamo highlighted the need to support Nigerian airlines in reciprocating international air service agreements, noting that many agreements currently do not favor Nigerian carriers. He pointed out that while airlines such as Air France, Lufthansa, and Delta operate to Nigeria, no Nigerian airlines are flying to destinations like Paris, Frankfurt, or the United States. Similarly, South African Airlines flies to Nigeria without a reciprocal operation from Nigerian carriers.

The minister emphasized the constraints faced by Nigerian airlines, which have led to a high mortality rate in the industry, with over 150 Nigerian carriers going extinct in the last 35 years.

The post British Airways May Face Restrictions in Lagos Operations – Keyamo appeared first on The Lagosian Magazine.

The craft was set to fly from Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, to the nearby city of Pokhara. Pokhara, the country’s second-largest city, is a major tourist gateway and a hub for trekking and adventure sports.

The crash happened at around 11am local time on Wednesday, the Kathmandu Post reports. State television in Nepal says a plane has slipped off the runway and crashed while trying to take off from Kathmandu airport.

Smoke can be seen rising from the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.

Nineteen people, including crew members, were aboard the plane, according to local media. Eighteen bodies have since been recovered.
Eyewitnesses reports say that the plane was taking off from the Southern-end of the runway and suddenly flipped with the wing tip hitting the ground.

The aircraft caught fire immediately and then plunged to a gorge on the eastern side of the runway.

Police and firefighters are still at the scene carrying out rescue opeartions, and thick billows of smoke can be seen at the airport.

Tribhuvan International Airport, the main airport in Nepal for international and domestic flights, has been closed as emergency crew worked.

It is monsoon rainy season in Kathmandu but was not raining at the time of the crash. Visibility was low across the capital, however.

Saurya Airlines operates the Bombardier CRJ 200 on domestic routes.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Story courtesy of Mirror.Uk

The post BREAKING: Plane crashes during takeoff and bursts into flames appeared first on The Lagosian Magazine.

Emirates Airline has insisted that their ban on flights in and out of Nigeria since March 2021 remains irreversible. The topnotch airline operators who had 2 days earlier lifted the months-long ban released a statement that affirmed the Arab aviation handlers†stand – No Flight operation in Nigeria. The new ban becomes effective from June 21, 2021.

Stating this, the media release by the foremost airline operators shows that customers coming into Nigeria will not be allowed to board while others who have business with Nigeria in the past 2 weeks will not be granted access to the UAE on any of their aircrafts.

A section of the official statement reads: “We regret the inconvenience caused, and affected customers should contact their booking agent or Emirates call centre for rebooking,” said the airline. “Emirates remains committed to Nigeria, and we look forward to resuming passenger services when conditions allow.”

Similar conditions are also applicable to their South African customers. This protocol is connected to the new travel regulations of Dubaiâ€s Supreme Court Committee of crisis and disaster management effective from June 23, 2021.

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The President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government has been strongly admonished to jettison the idea of resuscitating any ‘national carrier†in the name of ‘Air Nigeria†and instead collaborate with the private sector.

The team leader of the popular travels and tours†outfit, Ufitfly Ltd, Evangelist Ajibola Ogunkeyede who made the call while featuring on Space FM Ibadanâ€s programme, Parrot Xtra Hour On Radio anchored by Olayinka Agboola on Tuesday stated that the hope of getting Air Nigeria back has continued to dim after two years of its re-launch in London.
“Two years ago, the Federal Government unveiled Nigeriaâ€s new national carrier in London. The Air Nigeria project has, however, remained a dream with little or no hope of it becoming a reality”, the popular travels†consultant noted.

He also added “It will be of great benefit to us in the Tourism and Travel business sector if our national carrier is in full operation but the multibillion naira investment has, in the last one year, been stalled. “My belief is until the federal government is sincere enough to privatize or hand over the project to private investors who will prioritize the profitability aspect of the aviation business before anything meaningful can be achieved. The business be left in the care of civil servants.
“The adverse effects of COVID-19 on businesses have worsened the fates of the travel business practitioners in the country and what could have given us some level of leverage is Nigeria having a national carrier”, Ogunkeyede averred.

While speaking on how he came up with the ‘UfitFly†concept, the young entrepreneur said “It was God. We were looking for a concept that would stand the test of time, that would stand us shoulder above others – it was while were brainstorming that one of us came up with the slogan, ufitfly.)
“Of course, it is now more than a slogan because we registered it as a full company over three years ago. Today, by Godâ€s grace, we have offices in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ilorin, Osogbo, London and others.”)

Ogunkeyede also took time to explain why he decided to introduce serious entertainment into his brand of business.)
His words “I will still repeat that it was God that gave me the inspiration. I was sleeping and something told me to reach out to Mama Bola Are to join our then proposed tour of Israel. Mama Are did not hesitate. Since that time, we have been asking popular entertainment personalities to join our numerous packaged tours of foreign lands to afford those who wished to meet them to see and also travel with them.}
“So far, we have taken the likes of Sir Shina Peters, Evangelist Tope Alabi, Woli Agba, Lafup and several others. We have reached an agreement with Alhaji Obesere and others. Our people should just watch out.”

‘Parrot Xtra Hour on Radio,†a production from the stables of Prokonnect Limited, the publishers of PMParrot.com and Parrot Xtra Magazine hit the airwaves on January 7, 2020 and has since featured the likes of Professor Banji Akintoye, Arc Muyiwa Ige, Dimeji Lawal, Dele Odule, Yinka Odumakin, AIG Bashir Makama and several others.A

The post National Carrier: Forget About Air Nigeria, Collaborate With Private Sector, UfitFly Boss Tells Buhari’s Government appeared first on The Lagosian Magazine.