Kwam 1 Added to No-Fly List, Blacklisted Domestically and Internationally

BY ANTHONY OMOH

In a decisive move to reinforce safety and discipline, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has announced a comprehensive Kwam 1 flight ban, placing the Fuji musician on a no-fly list that applies to both domestic and international flights.

This no-fly list placement follows a disturbing incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Tuesday, August 7, 2025, where Kwam 1, legally known as King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, was caught on video obstructing a ValueJet aircraft on the tarmac.

The no-fly list placement also effectively grounds the musician from all scheduled commercial flights pending the conclusion of investigations into the August 6 incident at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, during which he was seen confronting airline crew and allegedly obstructing the aircraft’s taxiway.

Video evidence confirmed that the musician left the aircraft after an onboard altercation and deliberately stood in the path of the aircraft during taxi, an action that the Minister described as “akin to a hostage situation” and a serious safety threat.

 “He repositioned himself multiple times in front of a moving aircraft, endangering not only himself but other passengers and airport staff. This is an egregious violation of safety protocol and cannot be ignored,” said Keyamo.

The Minister further noted that the action of the pilot, who began taxiing while Kwam 1 was still in front of the aircraft, also fell short of global safety standards.

As a result, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) swiftly suspended the licenses of both the pilot and first officer pending the outcome of a full investigation.

However, Keyamo insisted that accountability must be holistic and not selective.

 “Justice cannot be one-sided. While crew negligence is being investigated, so too must we deal firmly with unruly passenger behaviour, no matter the individual’s status or popularity,” the Minister added.

To that end, the Ministry has directed the NCAA to place Kwam 1 on a no-fly list. The instruction mandates all local and foreign airlines operating in or out of Nigeria to deny him boarding privileges for the time being.

 “This no-fly status applies to both domestic and international airlines. Any airline that disobeys this directive risks having its operating licence within Nigerian airspace suspended or revoked,” Keyamo warned.

Aviation stakeholders say the Kwam 1 flight ban underscores a growing concern over rising unruly behaviour in Nigeria’s aviation sector, from passengers to celebrities, as well as occasional lapses in crew discipline. The latest move, they believe, sends a strong message about the non-negotiable nature of aviation safety.

Safety protocol breach on both sides

The Minister did not excuse the actions of the pilot either, stating that no matter the provocation, “the captain and pilot of an aircraft must not begin to taxi without ensuring that security personnel have safely moved any unruly passenger away from the aircraft path.”

“Both sides breached standard safety protocol as required by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO),” Keyamo noted.

Keyamo commended the NCAA for swiftly suspending the pilot’s license pending investigation. However, he emphasized that “justice must be balanced,” directing equivalent action against the offending passenger.

More sanctions could follow

As public pressure mounts and new calls for a wider no-access sanction takes shape, it remains unclear whether the ministry will escalate sanctions beyond the no-fly list.

However, Keyamo concluded his latest statement with a warning: “I will not sit idly by and allow this to pass.”

With both the crew and Kwam 1 now grounded, the outcome of the investigation could redefine how unruly passenger behavior, celebrity or not, is treated going forward in Nigeria’s aviation space.

Kwam 1’s camp has yet to release an official response to the flight ban. However, this latest development could significantly impact his professional engagements, particularly those requiring domestic tours or overseas travel.

Industry observers say the Ministry’s swift response may serve as a deterrent and signal a new era of enforcement across Nigerian aviation, where privilege and popularity will no longer shield offenders from accountability.