Keyamo Grounds KWAM 1 Over Abuja Airport Drama

The Nigerian aviation space was thrown into fresh controversy on Thursday after the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, ordered Fuji music legend Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (popularly known as K1 De Ultimate) to be placed on a no-fly list following a disruptive incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

Keyamo made the directive public in a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, saying the move was necessary to ensure that all parties involved in the airport standoff — including both aviation staff and passengers — are held accountable for any breach of safety protocols.

“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 risks the withdrawal of their operating licence,” the minister stated.

The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, August 6, involved KWAM 1 allegedly attempting to carry a flask containing alcohol aboard a Lagos-bound ValueJet flight, in violation of standard aviation safety rules. Despite warnings from aviation security officers and the flight captain, he reportedly insisted on boarding with the substance and proceeded to spill the liquid on a staff member during the confrontation.

According to a statement from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the veteran musician’s actions escalated into full-blown disorder when he refused to follow instructions and allegedly blocked the aircraft from taxiing by positioning himself on the tarmac in front of the plane.

“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 is akin to a hostage situation,” Keyamo said.

Describing the incident as a “temporary loss of sanity and control on both sides,” the minister condemned the response of both the airline crew and the passenger. He said the matter had become a serious safety breach that warranted disciplinary action across board.

Earlier, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had moved to suspend the licenses of the two ValueJet pilots who attempted to taxi the aircraft while the agitated passenger was still in a dangerous position on the runway.

But Keyamo criticised the initial NCAA decision for singling out the crew, demanding fairness in enforcement.

“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,” he said.

He also dismissed claims by KWAM 1’s aides suggesting that the musician’s actions were minor or misunderstood, insisting that video evidence showed a clear case of interference with aircraft movement — a grave offence under aviation law.

“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… Both sides breached standard safety protocol as required by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO),” Keyamo concluded.

As investigations continue, KWAM 1’s placement on the no-fly list marks a dramatic turn in the relationship between Nigeria’s growing entertainment industry and its strict aviation safety standards. It also signals the minister’s intent to apply zero tolerance for misconduct in aviation spaces — whether by passenger or pilot.

Whether the sanctions will be lifted or further extended will depend on the outcome of the full probe currently underway.