Tensions flared at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1, Lagos, on Wednesday morning after former Edo State Governor and current Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, clashed with officials of Air Peace over what he called a “deliberate scam” against air travellers.
The drama unfolded when Oshiomhole, who said he had checked in online for a 6:30 a.m. flight to Abuja, arrived at the terminal by 6:20 a.m. but was denied boarding. A viral video shows the senator visibly frustrated, blocking the terminal entrance in protest.
Air Peace, in a statement titled “Unruly Conduct by Prominent Politician at Lagos Airport”, condemned what it described as disorderly behaviour by the senator. The airline insisted it does not tolerate violence or disruption at its facilities.
However, Oshiomhole, a former president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), fired back, accusing Air Peace of exploiting passengers by denying them boarding and reselling their seats at inflated prices.
Oshiomhole described the airline’s conduct as “daylight robbery,” accusing them of systematically turning away early-booked passengers only to sell the same seats on the spot at rates ranging between N200,000 and N300,000.
“This is not just about me,” he said. “Many passengers were treated the same way. A woman who bought her ticket for N146,000 and arrived at 5:55 a.m. was told she had missed her flight. She had a six-month-old baby and was asked to buy a new ticket for N109,100. How is that fair?”
The senator explained that he had taken extra steps to avoid any issues by checking in online the day before, along with two Ghanaian colleagues. “We had no luggage, no need to queue. I arrived before 6:30 a.m., but they still refused to let me board, even though others were being allowed in.”
He alleged that the gate was shut deliberately to create an excuse for reselling seats to desperate travellers at higher rates.
“What is the purpose of online check-in if I still have to go through another process?” he asked. “They were simply trying to cash in. And this is not the first time this has happened. Many people at the airport were shouting in frustration.”
Oshiomhole claimed that after security officials intervened, Air Peace offered him and the affected woman seats on a later flight—but only if the woman paid another N109,100, effectively doubling her travel cost.
“I had to give her N500,000 to sort herself and her baby out,” he said. “That’s how bad it was. This system is broken, and there must be accountability.”
Eyewitnesses supported Oshiomhole’s account, saying several other passengers faced similar treatment. “This happens almost every day,” one traveller said. “If you don’t pay again, you’re stranded, no matter when you booked or arrived.”
Air Peace has not publicly addressed the senator’s specific claims of ticket resale at inflated rates, but industry observers say such practices, if true, point to serious regulatory lapses.
Analysts warn that repeated cases of overbooking and reselling of seats could damage public trust in local airlines. Consumer rights groups have also begun calling for an investigation by aviation authorities.
Oshiomhole urged the Federal Government and aviation regulators to act quickly to curb such practices. “Everyone blames the government, but where are the regulatory agencies? They are silent while Nigerians suffer,” he said.
This incident adds to the growing list of passenger complaints about domestic airlines in Nigeria, particularly regarding delays, overbooking, and lack of transparency in ticketing policies.
As pressure mounts, all eyes are now on the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to respond and investigate the allegations made by the senator and other affected passengers. For many Nigerians, Wednesday’s airport drama was not just about a missed flight — it was about a broken system.
