The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has blacklist popular Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, also known as Kwam 1, from all Nigerian commercial flights for a period of six months.
This followed Kwam 1’s alleged unruly behavior which reportedly compromised airport protocol and disrupted standard boarding and departure procedures at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The Director of Consumer Protection at the NCAA Michael Achimugu disclosed this on Thursday.
According to the NCAA, the licenses of pilots involved in the incident have been suspended temporarily, pending the outcome of a full investigation.
NCAA added that safety, order, and respect for standard procedures must be maintained at all times, regardless of status or social standing.
Achimugu added that no one is “untouchables” in Nigeria’s airspace, dismissing rumours that Kwam 1 would not be punished because of his closeness to the presidency.
He said, “The fact that he is a well-known figure or even close to the President does not exempt him from the law,” he said. “President Bola Tinubu himself is a respecter of the law and would not condone any act that undermines public safety or the regulatory authority of the NCAA.”
FAAN, NCAA earlier statement on Kwam 1
The New Daily Prime reported earlier that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had confirmed Kwam 1 involvement in the disruptive incident.
In a statement released on Wednesday, FAAN disclosed that the music icon allegedly spilt alcohol on an aviation security officer who attempted to inspect the contents of a flask he was carrying. The incident occurred on August 5 at the domestic terminal and has since led to the suspension of two ValueJet pilots.
According to FAAN, the Olori’ba of Ijebuland, who was scheduled to fly from Abuja to Lagos aboard ValueJet Flight VK 201, violated aviation safety protocols when he refused to comply with standard security checks involving liquids onboard.
The NCAA had earlier announced the suspension of the two ValueJet pilots for initiating departure procedures without receiving the required pre-departure clearance. While the NCAA did not mention the musician directly, reports later revealed that Kwam 1’s disruptive behaviour contributed to the safety breach.
