A dramatic scene unfolded on Wednesday morning at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, as Senator Adams Oshiomhole, former governor of Edo State and current Senator representing Edo North, allegedly shut down a major terminal after missing his flight to Abuja.
The incident, which occurred at the Zulu Terminal of the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), has sparked national uproar, with many calling for accountability from the lawmaker. According to Air Peace, the airline operating the flight, Oshiomhole arrived at the airport around 6:10 a.m. for Flight P47120, scheduled to depart at 6:30 a.m.
However, as per standard aviation procedures, boarding had already closed by the time the senator arrived. In a strongly worded statement, the airline disclosed that Oshiomhole reacted violently upon learning he had missed the flight.
“Upon being informed of the missed flight, the politician resorted to violence, physically assaulting our staff and forcefully barricading the terminal’s entrance,” Air Peace said.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with the senator allegedly manning the entrance of the terminal himself, shutting down access and preventing other passengers from boarding their flights. Airport and airline staff were reportedly seen pleading with him to de-escalate the situation.
The disruption caused by the senator’s actions led to a near-total shutdown of the busy terminal, which handles flights to major cities like Abuja, Benin, Asaba, Port Harcourt, Ilorin, Enugu, Calabar, Uyo, Owerri, and Yola during peak hours.
To mitigate the disruption, Air Peace said it quickly rerouted passengers through an alternative terminal, ensuring minimal further delays for other travelers.
“We are deeply saddened that such a high-profile figure displayed conduct so unbecoming and disruptive to fellow passengers and our personnel,” the airline noted.
Air Peace reiterated its zero-tolerance policy on violence, urging all passengers, regardless of status, to adhere to aviation protocols and timelines.
As of the time of reporting, Senator Oshiomhole had not issued any public statement concerning the incident. Meanwhile, civil society groups and aviation stakeholders have begun calling for disciplinary actions to serve as a deterrent to similar behavior in the future.
The Zulu Terminal, once the old Ikeja Airport, remains a vital hub for Nigeria’s domestic air travel network, making Wednesday’s disruption particularly impactful.
