Oshiomhole narrates airport drama with Air Peace

Senator Adams Oshiomhole, former Governor of Edo State and current representative of Edo North Senatorial District, has opened up about a controversial incident at Murtala Muhammed Airport, accusing Air Peace of reselling seats to desperate travelers at exorbitant prices.

In a statement following a viral video showing him in a heated exchange with airport staff, Oshiomhole recounted how he and other passengers were denied boarding despite checking in online for an early morning flight from Lagos to Abuja on Wednesday.

“I booked Air Peace’s 6:30 a.m. flight and checked in online the night before—just to avoid issues I’ve had with them in the past,” he explained. “I arrived at the terminal at exactly 6:05 a.m., but they told me the gate had closed.”

Oshiomhole said he showed proof of his online check-in and informed staff that he had no luggage, but was still denied access—while other passengers were allegedly being ushered in.

“What’s the point of online check-in if you can still be barred from boarding 25 minutes before departure?” he questioned.

He further alleged that the airline was deliberately turning away passengers who had purchased cheaper tickets online in favor of on-the-spot buyers willing to pay between ₦200,000 and ₦300,000—far higher than the ₦146,000 paid by one affected woman who arrived before the gate closure time.

According to Oshiomhole, the woman, who had a six-month-old baby, was denied boarding and told she would have to buy another ticket for ₦109,100 to board the next flight—despite already paying ₦146,000 for the original booking. In total, she would have spent over ₦250,000 for the short domestic trip to Abuja.

“I asked the airline manager, ‘What’s this woman’s crime? She was here before 6:00 a.m. Why deny her access when others are boarding?’ This is extortion,” he said.

The senator claimed security personnel, including DSS and Air Force officers, eventually intervened to de-escalate the situation, but the chaos had already left several passengers stranded and furious.

“Many people were shouting. Those who had booked earlier were denied entry, while others paid their way in. This isn’t just poor service—it’s a deliberate scheme to exploit travelers,” he said.

Oshiomhole, visibly angered by the incident, said he personally gave the affected mother ₦500,000 to help with her travel expenses, describing the situation as a systemic failure fueled by compromised regulators.

“I was offered access to a lounge by an officer, but people begged me to stay and speak up because this is how ordinary Nigerians are treated daily. This injustice must stop.”

As of the time of reporting, Air Peace has not publicly responded to Oshiomhole’s claims.