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Cabinet officials

Senator Oshiomhole Petitions Aviation Minister over Allegations of Extortion by Airlines

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, has petitioned the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, over alleged extortion of passengers by airlines at the country's airports. The senator has denied allegations of disrupting the operations of Air Peace at the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos, clarifying that his insistence on being treated like other frustrated passengers led to the false narrative against him. Oshiomhole has stated that his recent experiences with Air Peace highlighted the growing impunity and disregard for passengers' rights in the country's aviation sector.

Key Takeaways:

  • Senator Adams Oshiomhole has petitioned the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development over allegations of extortion by airlines at the country's airports.
  • Oshiomhole denied allegations of disrupting the operations of Air Peace at the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos, stating that his insistence on being treated like other frustrated passengers led to the false narrative against him.
  • The senator stated that his experiences with Air Peace highlighted the growing impunity and disregard for passengers' rights in the country's aviation sector.
  • Oshiomhole claimed that he was denied boarding despite arriving early for his scheduled flight and having checked in online the previous night.
  • The senator alleged that airlines were selling tickets on the spot at higher prices, while those who had booked online at lower rates were being denied boarding.
  • Oshiomhole criticized the "VIP culture of impunity" where influential people were offered personalized solutions while ordinary citizens suffered.
  • The senator stated that he refused to let airline staff "sort him out" while others, including women with babies, were left stranded.

Statistics:

  • The senator had a hotel bill of N1.5 million to accommodate himself and two stranded Ghanaian passengers.
  • Air Peace sold tickets on the spot for N250,000, while those who had booked online at lower rates were being denied boarding.
  • The senator had checked in online for his flight 9 hours before departure.
  • Oshiomhole arrived at the airport 40 minutes ahead of his scheduled flight time.
  • The airline denied boarding to passengers who had checked in online while selling tickets on the spot to others at higher prices.

Sources:

  • [CNN Nigeria]
  • [Punch Newspapers]
  • [News Agency of Nigeria]

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