KWAM 1: Festus Keyamo Breaks Silence on ValueJet Incident, Calls Behaviour “Unacceptable”

KWAM 1: Festus Keyamo Breaks Silence on ValueJet Incident, Calls Behaviour “Unacceptable”

  • Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo has condemned KWAM 1’s conduct at Abuja airport, calling it “totally unacceptable” after reviewing video footage and agency reports
  • The Fuji star allegedly blocked a ValueJet aircraft from taxiing, prompting safety concerns and a swift regulatory response
  • Both KWAM 1 and the aircraft’s pilot have now been sanctioned, with Keyamo ordering the singer’s placement on a no-fly list pending full investigation

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has condemned the recent altercation involving Fuji music icon KWAM 1 and ValueJet crew at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, describing the incident as a breach of international aviation safety protocols.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, August 7, 2025, Festus Keyamo revealed that he had received comprehensive reports and video footage from relevant aviation agencies concerning the confrontation between KWAM 1 and ValueJet staff.

Festus Keyamo reacts to KWAM 1’s ValueJet standoff, calling the airport conduct “unacceptable” and ordering a no-fly listing.
KWAM 1: Festus Keyamo breaks silence on ValueJet incident, condemning the singer’s “unacceptable” behaviour at Abuja airport. Photo credit: Festus Keyamo/X
Source: Facebook

Keyamo stated that the preliminary findings pointed to “a case of temporary loss of sanity and control on both sides,” warning that the situation could have escalated into a fatal event.

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He criticised KWAM 1’s actions on the tarmac, saying the artist “constantly moved his position on the tarmac to actually block the aircraft from taxiing to take position on the runway for take-off.”

“This is totally unacceptable behaviour,” Keyamo wrote.

”The issue of whether he was carrying water or alcohol is not even in issue at this point. It is the physical blockage of the aircraft from taxiing that is the reprehensible conduct here which is akin to a hostage situation.”

Safety protocols breached by both KWAM 1 and ValueJet crew

Keyamo also expressed concern over the pilot’s decision to begin taxiing while KWAM 1 was still positioned in front of the aircraft. He noted that “no amount of provocation should make the Captain and Pilot of an aircraft begin to taxi without ensuring that the security personnel have safely moved an unruly passenger away.”

According to Keyamo, both parties violated standard safety procedures as outlined by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). He acknowledged the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority’s (NCAA) decision to temporarily suspend the pilot’s licence, but questioned the fairness of targeting only one side.

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“I commend them for their proactive action. However, I have also questioned their sense of justice in only acting against one party and not the other party. What applies to the goose must also to the gander,” he stated.

See the X post below:

KWAM 1 placed on no-fly list pending investigation

In a decisive move, Keyamo announced that KWAM 1 would be placed on a no-fly list pending a full investigation into the incident. He directed the NCAA to inform all domestic and international airlines of the directive, warning that any airline that fails to comply risks having its operating licence withdrawn.

“I will not sit idly by and allow this to pass,” Keyamo declared.

KWAM 1 faces backlash as Festus Keyamo breaks silence on the ValueJet incident, citing “unacceptable” breach of aviation safety.
KWAM 1 faces backlash as Festus Keyamo breaks silence on the ValueJet incident, citing “unacceptable” breach of aviation safety. Photo credit: Festus Keyamo/X
Source: Twitter

FG suspends pilots at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport

Legit.ng earlier reported that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced the suspension of a ValueJet pilot and a co-pilot over the allegation of violating the safety protocol of the aviation at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

Read also

NCAA bans popular musician from flying in Nigeria for six months

Michael Achimugu, the director of public affairs and consumer protection of the federal government agency, disclosed the development in a statement on Tuesday, August 5, stating that the NCAA confirmed the receipt of the report of the incident, which happened on the same day at the airport's domestic terminal.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Basit Jamiu avatar

Basit Jamiu (Current Affairs and Politics Editor) Basit Jamiu is a journalist with more than five years of experience. He is a current affairs and politics editor at Legit.ng. He holds a bachelor's degree from Ekiti State University (2018). Basit previously worked as a staff writer at Ikeja Bird (2022), Associate Editor at Prime Progress (2022), and Staff Writer at The Movee (2018). He is a 2024 Open Climate Fellow (West Africa), 2023 MTN Media Fellow, OCRP Fellow at ICIR, and Accountability Fellow at CJID. Email: basit.jamiu@corp.legit.ng.

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