Oshiomhole Denies Air Peace Allegations, Accuses Airline of Extortion, Regulatory Failures

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Senator Adams Oshiomhole has refuted claims by Air Peace that he disrupted airport operations, countering that he instead exposed systemic extortion, unfair treatment of passengers, and regulatory lapses in Nigeria’s aviation sector.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the former Edo State governor shared his grievances against Air Peace, citing multiple instances of alleged exploitation. The dispute arose after the airline accused him of arriving late for a 6:30 a.m. flight and attempting to force his way onboard, causing delays.

However, Oshiomhole presented a different account, stating he arrived at 6:05 a.m. for the flight, having checked in online the previous night, yet was denied boarding while other passengers—including walk-ins paying nearly double the fare—were allowed to board.

“This isn’t policy enforcement; it’s organized extortion,” he asserted, displaying receipts, videos, and passenger testimonies to support his claims. He alleged that the airline routinely prioritized last-minute, high-paying customers over those who booked early.

Oshiomhole also recounted how he declined preferential treatment when airline staff recognized him, insisting on being treated like any other passenger. He further described assisting stranded travelers, including a young mother with a baby who was forced to pay extra for a new ticket after being denied boarding.

Denying any role in causing disruptions, he attributed the chaos at the airport to passenger frustration over unfair practices. He slammed the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for failing to protect consumers and called for a government investigation.

“This is ruthless, primitive capitalism,” Oshiomhole said. “When citizens lose trust in the system, even bullets won’t stop their anger. The government must act to end this exploitation.”

His remarks have reignited demands for stronger oversight and reform in Nigeria’s aviation industry, which has long faced criticism over poor service and lack of accountability.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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