Senator representing Edo North and former Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has narrated a disturbing encounter at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 on Wednesday morning, alleging that Air Peace engaged in unethical ticketing practices that left several passengers, including himself, stranded despite valid bookings and online check-ins.
Speaking exclusively to Vanguard, Oshiomhole revealed that he and other passengers were denied boarding on an early morning Air Peace flight to Abuja, even though they had checked in online ahead of the scheduled 6:30 a.m. departure.
According to him, the confusion and eventual commotion at Zulu Hall of the Lagos domestic terminal were triggered by Air Peace’s alleged decision to resell already-booked seats to last-minute travelers at significantly higher prices.
“I booked Air Peace… They delayed the flight for over five hours. In the end, they announced a cancellation. I had to get another ticket,” Oshiomhole recounted. “Yesterday, I booked a flight for 6:30 a.m., their first flight today. I checked in online along with two other Ghanaians who were with me.”
Despite arriving at the terminal around 6:05 a.m. and providing evidence of his online check-in, Oshiomhole said airport staff told him the boarding gate had closed.
“They asked if I had checked in. I said yes, and showed them. I had no luggage, but they still said the gate was closed,” he said. “Meanwhile, I noticed they were still taking in other passengers. I asked, ‘How can you close boarding for a 6:30 flight at 6:05?’ What’s the purpose of online check-in, then?”
He further alleged that several other passengers faced similar treatment, including a woman who bought a ticket for ₦146,000 online and was told she was late—despite arriving at 5:55 a.m. She was reportedly denied boarding while the airline resold seats on the spot for between ₦200,000 and ₦300,000.
“They were discouraging those who had bought tickets at lower rates and selling to people willing to pay more,” he claimed.
A video that surfaced online earlier in the day showed Oshiomhole visibly frustrated during a confrontation with airport officials, underscoring the tension at the terminal.
The incident has sparked fresh concerns over consumer rights and regulatory oversight in Nigeria’s aviation industry, with many calling for a thorough investigation by relevant authorities, including the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
