The Senate Committee on Aviation has said it would engage regulatory agencies, airline operators, security agencies, and public interest groups in an extensive review of aviation procedures to close any procedural gaps that could undermine safety and professionalism in the sector.
It would also investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged unruly behaviours of some passengers at the nation’s airports and proffer possible solutions to curb future occurrences.
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Chairman of the Committee, Buhari Abdulfatai (APC, Oyo North), disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
“In the exercise of its constitutional powers, the Committee will be engaging key regulatory bodies, operators, security agencies, and public interest groups to establish the facts, review existing procedures, and ensure that any necessary corrective measures are swiftly implemented” he said.
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In recent weeks, Nigerian airports have witnessed several embarrassing scenes involving passengers, some of whom boasted of their political influence and connections with government authorities.
These incidents, caught on video and widely circulated on social media, generated public discourse about discipline, passenger rights and the enforcement of aviation safety regulations in the country.
One of the most publicised cases occurred in June when Edo North Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, was seen confronting Air Peace staff members over the airline’s handling of a scheduled Lagos–Abuja flight.
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While Air Peace accused him of disrupting operations after missing a 6:30 a.m. flight, Mr Oshiomhole, a former Edo Governor, denied the claim, insisting he was standing up for passengers denied boarding despite adhering to check-in rules.
Two months later, in August, a Nigerian musician, Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as KWAM 1, was involved in another incident at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Kwam 1 allegedly defied airline instructions by insisting on consuming alcohol on board a ValueJet aircraft, and at one point attempted to physically prevent the aircraft from taking off.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) suspended the pilots involved and banned KWAM 1 from flying for six months.
The situation was later resolved after the musician apologised. The Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo intervened, reducing the ban to one month and announcing that KWAM 1 would be engaged as an ambassador for airport security protocol awareness.
In another recent case, a passenger, Comfort Emmanson, allegedly assaulted Ibom Air officials after being asked to switch off her phone during take-off. She was forcibly removed from the aircraft, during which her clothes were torn, leaving her partially exposed.
The incident generated outrage after she was immediately arraigned, remanded in prison, and punished with a lifetime travel ban. Following public outcry, the aviation minister ordered the charges dropped, the ban lifted, and her immediate release.
Lawmakers promise strict oversight
Mr Abdulfatai made it clear that lawmakers will not allow lapses in enforcement to compromise the sector.
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“We will not allow procedural gaps or lapses in enforcement to undermine safety, professionalism, or public trust in our aviation system. The Senate Committee on Aviation will ensure accountability at all levels,” he stated.
He assured Nigerians that the Senate will maintain active oversight of the aviation sector, working closely with stakeholders to introduce measures to reduce unruly behaviour and ensure smoother operations nationwide.
The committee’s review is expected to cover passenger conduct policies, airline operational procedures, and enforcement mechanisms, with the goal of balancing passenger rights with strict adherence to safety protocols.
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