The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Hon. Festus Keyamo (SAN), has broken his silence over the recent altercation involving popular Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as K1 de Ultimate, and the crew of ValueJet at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
In a statement personally signed by the Minister on Thursday, Keyamo described the incident, which occurred on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, as a serious breach of aviation safety protocols by both the artiste and the flight crew.
According to the Minister, preliminary reports and video footage received from relevant aviation agencies showed that K1 de Ultimate deliberately blocked the aircraft from taxiing to the runway — an act the Minister likened to a “hostage situation.”
“Contrary to what the agents of Kwam 1 have said, he 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,” the statement said.
The Minister added that whether the musician was carrying water or alcohol was irrelevant, stressing that the core issue was the deliberate obstruction of an aircraft during an active operation.
However, he also faulted the pilot and captain of the aircraft for proceeding to taxi while the passenger was still in a dangerous position, noting that “no amount of provocation” justified such action.
“Both sides breached standard safety protocol as required by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO),” he said.
While commending the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for the prompt suspension of the pilot’s licence pending a full investigation, Keyamo criticised the regulatory body for not taking similar action against the musician.
“What applies to the goose must also apply to the gander. I have directed the NCAA to place K1 de Ultimate on a no-fly list pending the conclusion of the investigation. All airlines, both domestic and international, are to be informed immediately. Any operator that flouts this directive risks suspension or withdrawal of licence,” the statement added.
Keyamo assured Nigerians that safety and discipline would continue to be the cornerstone of aviation operations in the country.