Following a recent incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Fuji music legend Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM 1, will now serve as an ambassador for proper airport security protocol.
This announcement was made on Wednesday by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in a statement addressing recent incidents of unruly behaviour at Nigerian airports.
The minister stated that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has agreed to shorten KWAM 1’s flight ban to one month and will work alongside him to raise public awareness about acceptable conduct at airports. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) will lead the engagement efforts.
The statement read: “The NCAA is to reduce his flight ban to a one-month period. FAAN will also work with the music star with a view to engaging him as an ambassador for proper airport security protocol going forward. Having publicly demonstrated penitence, the NCAA is also to withdraw its criminal complaints against KWAM 1 earlier lodged with the police,” .
According to Keyamo, the decision was made following appeals from respected individuals and KWAM 1’s public apology for the August 5 incident, where he allegedly obstructed the movement of a ValueJet aircraft.
This development comes after KWAM 1 apologized to the public, clarifying that the flask he carried on the day contained water for medical reasons, not alcohol as alleged by security personnel.
The minister pointed out that the clemency was granted on “compassionate grounds” but stressed that the government remains steadfast in its commitment to enforcing aviation safety laws.
As previously reported, on August 5, KWAM 1 was involved in an altercation with airline staff and security personnel at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while preparing to board a ValueJet flight complaint
He was accused of carrying a prohibited flask believed to contain alcohol, spilling its contents on personnel, and later walking onto the aircraft’s tarmac, allegedly blocking the plane from taxiing.
The NCAA described the act as a breach of aviation safety regulations and initially placed the artiste on a six-month no-fly list while also filing a criminal complaint.
