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By Lizzy Chirkpi
Senator Adams Oshiomhole, the former Edo State governor, reportedly brought activities to a standstill at the Zulu Terminal of the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos on Wednesday, after arriving late for his scheduled flight to Abuja.
Pointblanknews.com gathered that the lawmaker blocked the entrance to the terminal for almost an hour, arriving well past the 6:30 AM scheduled departure time of his Air Peace flight to Abuja.
Credible sources confirmed that the senator completely obstructed the terminal’s entrance, refusing to move despite multiple pleas from the terminal manager. Instead of accepting responsibility for his lateness, the Edo lawmaker allegedly chose to create chaos and gridlock, leaving dozens of passengers stranded and delayed.
Sources indicated that the terminal manager’s repeated efforts to resolve the disruption were met with obstinate refusal by the ex-governor, forcing the regional manager to intervene. A management meeting was reportedly convened in haste to pacify the senator and convince him to allow normal airport operations to resume.
Witnesses described the scene as chaotic and humiliating for both airline and airport staff, who were observed pleading with the politician to de-escalate the situation.
Air Peace, the airline scheduled to transport the senator to Abuja, reportedly declined to accommodate him, citing his late arrival and adherence to strict check-in policies.
“He missed the flight. That’s the simple truth. He wanted them to delay the flight for him, but Air Peace refused,” a source familiar with the incident told our correspondent.
Another source revealed, “Oshiomhole blocked the terminal entrance completely until the regional manager came to resolve the issue. The terminal manager made all attempts to resolve it, but Oshiomhole rebuffed everything, so he could not resolve the issue. There was a management meeting called to beg Oshiomhole. He disrupted flights by shutting down the Zulu Terminal. The situation was so tense that a management meeting was hurriedly convened to plead with the senator to step aside so that operations could resume.”
Domestic airlines in Lagos operate from two main terminals: Murtala Mohammed 1 (MM1), also known as the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), and Murtala Mohammed 2 (MM2). The General Aviation Terminal (GAT) comprises two sections—Alpha Hall and Zulu Hall. The Zulu Terminal, formerly the old Ikeja Airport, serves as the primary domestic wing of the MMIA, handling flights to key destinations across Nigeria, including Abuja, Benin, Asaba, Port Harcourt, Ilorin, Enugu, Calabar, Uyo, Owerri, and Yola.
This incident is a clear illustration of the abuse of privilege, where influential individuals, including politicians, exhibit unruly behaviour when missing flights. Such actions, including blocking airport access, extend beyond the scope of official Very Important Persons (VIPs) movement and demonstrate a disregard for rules and the convenience of other passengers.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs), specifically Part 19 (Consumer Protection Regulations), outline passengers’ rights, including compensation for flight delays and cancellations under certain conditions, though these generally exclude delays caused by technical issues, weather, air traffic control restrictions, security risks, and industrial disputes.
At the time of filing this report, neither the management of Air Peace nor Senator Oshiomhole had responded to calls or messages from Pointblanknews.com.
Meanwhile, reacting to the incident, the National Coordinator of Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, in his reaction, said everyone ought to abide by the rules no matter how highly placed.
“If anyone disrupts activity at a busy Lagos Airport such as is suspected to have happened today, then such a person, no matter his or her position in society or his/her status, should be arrested and prosecuted appropriately. Nobody should be allowed to take the law into his or her hands.
“A serving senator ought to know the sensitivity of the Lagos Airport and why everyone should abide by the rules and regulations governing air travel. Unfortunately, someone in the position of a lawmaker should not be this disorderly and unlawful. Let the law take its full course without let or hindrance,” he said.