Flight operations at Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 (Zulu Hall) were briefly disrupted on Wednesday morning following a heated altercation between Senator Adams Oshiomhole and staff of Nigeria’s leading domestic airline, Air Peace.
EpeInsights learnt that the incident occurred around 6:10 a.m. when the former Edo State governor and current senator arrived for a 6:30 a.m. flight to Abuja.
According to eyewitnesses and airline sources, Oshiomhole, who had reportedly completed online check-in, insisted on being allowed to board despite the airline’s claim that boarding had already closed.
In an official statement, Air Peace alleged that the lawmaker responded aggressively after being informed he had missed his flight.
The airline accused him of assaulting staff members and physically blocking the terminal entrance, disrupting access for other passengers.
“Upon being informed of the missed flight, the politician resorted to violence, physically assaulting our staff and forcefully barricading the terminal’s entrance,” the statement read.
“He went as far as sealing the entry gate and manning the access point, effectively obstructing other passengers from gaining entry into the terminal.”
As of the time of this report, Senator Oshiomhole has yet to publicly address or respond to the allegations.
The incident sparked debate online, with some calling for public officials to model respect for rules and procedures, particularly in sensitive infrastructure hubs like airports.
Others, however, questioned the rigidity of domestic airline boarding policies and called for more customer-centered conflict resolution mechanisms.
Airport security officials were seen stepping in to restore order, but no arrests or formal reports have been confirmed.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and relevant aviation authorities have not issued any statements yet, though calls for an independent review of the incident are growing louder.
