Minister of aviation and aerospace development Festus Keyamo has ordered the immediate placement of Fuji singer Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, on a no-fly list following his altercation with ValueJet staff at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, when K1 reportedly breached security protocols by walking on the tarmac and obstructing a ValueJet aircraft from taxiing.
In a statement released on his official X handle on Thursday, Mr Keyamo described the altercation as a “temporary loss of sanity and control on both sides” that could have resulted in serious fatalities.
According to Keyamo, video evidence and reports from aviation agencies revealed that the music icon deliberately stood in front of the aircraft, preventing it from moving.
“This is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE behaviour… akin to a hostage situation,” Keyamo wrote.
“Whether he was carrying water or alcohol is irrelevant. The physical blockage of the aircraft from taxiing is the reprehensible conduct here.”
The minister said the pilot also violated protocol by initiating taxi procedures before security had cleared the obstruction, leading to the temporary suspension of the pilot and captain’s licenses by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
“I commend NCAA for their proactive action. However, I have questioned their sense of justice in only acting against one party,” he said.
Keyamo further directed that, K1 be placed on a no-fly list pending the outcome of a full investigation and that all domestic and international airlines be notified immediately.
He warned that any airline that violates the directive risks having its operating license revoked.
“This is one of the tenets of justice I have preached all my life. I will not sit idly by and allow this to pass,” the minister said.
