There was tension at Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 in Lagos on Wednesday morning as Senator Adams Oshiomhole, former Governor of Edo State and current Senator representing Edo North, clashed with Air Peace airline officials over what he described as passenger exploitation and flight mismanagement.
Oshiomhole, speaking to Vanguard, narrated how he and several other passengers were denied boarding on an early morning flight to Abuja despite checking in online.
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According to him, the Air Peace 6:30 AM flight was fully booked in advance, but at the airport, passengers who had paid online were prevented from boarding, while tickets were allegedly being resold at inflated prices, ranging between ₦200,000 and ₦300,000.
“I checked in online and arrived at 6:05 AM for a 6:30 flight,” Oshiomhole explained. “They told me the gate was closed, but I saw them allowing others in—people who were buying new tickets at higher rates.”
He revealed that a woman with a baby, who had also checked in early, was told to pay an additional ₦109,000 after already purchasing a ticket for ₦146,000—bringing her total flight cost to over ₦250,000 for a domestic one-hour journey.
The lawmaker added that the chaotic scene drew the attention of security agencies, including DSS and Air Force personnel, who intervened but couldn’t immediately resolve the situation for many affected travelers.
“It was clear that passengers who had paid lower prices online were being denied access so that new tickets could be sold at outrageous rates. This is not just mismanagement, it is passenger exploitation, and it must stop,” Oshiomhole said.
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In a dramatic gesture, Oshiomhole disclosed that he personally sent ₦500,000 to the woman with the infant, to cover her costs after being stranded by the airline’s handling of the situation.
The disturbing account has sparked outrage on social media, especially after a video clip surfaced showing Oshiomhole in a heated exchange with airport staff. Many Nigerians have since called for an investigation into Air Peace’s boarding policies, accusing the airline of taking advantage of travelers amid rising ticket costs.
“This isn’t just about me,” Oshiomhole concluded. “It’s about the many Nigerians who were stranded, shouted down, and financially exploited. Regulatory agencies need to wake up.”
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