Players in the Nigerian aviation industry have commended Mr. Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, for blacklisting King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal 1 (KWAM 1), following his unruly behaviour on Monday onboard Valuejet Airlines at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.
Keyamo in a message to our correspondent said that he has directed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to place the Fuji musician on a “no fly list” pending the outcome of investigation into the matter.
Keyamo also directed the regulatory agency to inform all domestic and international airlines of this directive.
He said that the blacklisting of the passenger was necessary for justice purposes.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development also reprimanded the pilots of the aircraft for leaving the bay without adherence to necessary aviation protocols.
He said that while the NCAA was right for suspending the licences of the two pilots, the erring passenger must also be dealt with in accordance with industry rules and regulations.
He said: “On the other hand, 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 that is standing in front of an aircraft.
“Both parties breached standard safety protocol as required by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). I have noted that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has temporarily suspended the licence of the captain and the pilot pending full investigation. I commend them for their proactive action.
“I have also questioned their sense of justice in only acting against one party. What applies to the goose must also apply to the gander. That is one of the tenets of justice I have preached all my life. I will not sit idly by and allow this to pass.”
Keyamo threatened that any airline that flouted this directive risked the withdrawal of its operating licence.
Also, Grp. Capt. John Ojikutu (rtd.) has lauded Keyamo for the decisive action, but said the investigation should be extended to other ground personnel, including security staff at the airport.
He said: “Not only the passenger should be punished. Also, all those in the airport security checkpoints defence layers should equally be investigated. As the pilots licences are being withdrawn, so should theirs too be withdrawn.
“If investigation should show they do not have licences, the last report of the audits should indict the responsible authorities if the gaps are not closed.”
Engr. Chris Amokwu, aviation analyst, lauded Keyamo for taking the audacious step towards the retention of industry safety standards.
Amokwu called on the government to carry out investigation into the matter and ensure that any erring party is handled according to industry standards.
Also, Mr. Michael Achimugu, the Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, NCAA, confirmed the delisting of KWAM 1 by the authority.
Achimugu, in an interview with aviation journalists in Lagos, said that the musician would be barred for six months from flying locally or internationally from the country.
He, however said that irrespective of the campaigns against unruly behaviour, some people would still violate the rules.
He stated further that the NCAA would formerly petition the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Inspector-General of Police to take up the case legally.
He added: “That’s why the law and law enforcement exist. However, if it does happen, it is why there’s infrastructure and institutions in place to deal with those kind of scenarios. For instance, the Aviation Security (AVSEC) is there.
“Would this passenger have disobeyed these laws or anywhere else outside of network for that matter? Well, moving on from the passenger, the pilot also knows that there are rules
“There are videos circulating, which are also in the possession of the authority. My question: when you watch those videos, if the engine of that plane was not positioned where they were, what would have happened to the passenger?
“As we speak, the passenger is going to be blacklisted for the next six months by the NCAA. Aviation rules are made for everybody, for the protection of everybody. There’s nothing about the rules, and these rules are global. There’s nothing about the rules that antagonise any passenger. So, even for the passenger’s own sake, if you watch those videos, does it speak well of the passenger or the pilot?’
