The Nigerian federal government has imposed a “no-flight” ban on popular Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde, also known as Kwam 1, following an altercation with airline staff at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Tuesday. The ban prevents him from flying on all domestic and international airlines operating in Nigeria.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced the directive on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, instructing the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to issue a notice to all relevant parties for immediate implementation. He warned that any airline that violates the directive risks losing its operating license.
According to Keyamo, the incident involved Kwam 1 allegedly blocking an aircraft on the tarmac, preventing it from taxiing for takeoff. The minister described this behavior as “totally unacceptable” and akin to a “hostage situation.” Keyamo’s statement refuted claims from the musician’s representatives, emphasizing that the primary issue was not the contents of a drink, but rather the deliberate and dangerous act of obstructing the aircraft.
Speaking with local news outlet ait.live, a representative from the NCAA confirmed that the authority has issued an indefinite “no-fly blacklist” against the musician, which will remain in place pending a further review of the matter. The minister stressed that while no amount of provocation justifies such behavior, pilots and security personnel must always ensure an unruly passenger is moved to a safe distance before proceeding with takeoff.
