Drama as Oshiomhole Shuts Down Lagos Airport After Missing Flight to Abuja

Drama as Oshiomhole Shuts Down Lagos Airport After Missing Flight to Abuja

In a surprising turn of events on Wednesday, former Edo State Governor and current Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, caused the temporary closure of the Zulu Terminal at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos after arriving late for his flight to Abuja.

Sources at the airport revealed that Oshiomhole was scheduled to travel on a 6:30 AM Air Peace flight but arrived around 6:10 AM — after the boarding process had already concluded and the flight was preparing to depart.

In a dramatic display, he blocked the entrance to the Zulu Terminal of the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), refusing to move despite multiple pleas from the terminal manager.

Eyewitnesses recounted the scene, noting that instead of accepting responsibility for his tardiness, Oshiomhole’s actions created a gridlock that left dozens of passengers stranded and delayed. The terminal manager’s repeated attempts to resolve the situation were met with Oshiomhole’s  refusal, prompting the regional manager to step in.

A management meeting was hastily convened to address the disruption and persuade the senator to allow normal operations to resume. Witnesses described the atmosphere as chaotic and humiliating for airline and airport staff, who were seen earnestly pleading with Oshiomhole to de-escalate the situation.

Air Peace, the airline scheduled to transport the senator to Abuja, ultimately refused to accommodate him, citing his late arrival and strict adherence to check-in policies. “He missed the flight. That’s the simple truth. He wanted them to delay the flight for him, but Air Peace refused,” a source familiar with the incident explained.

Another source added, “Oshiomhole blocked the terminal entrance completely until the regional manager came to resolve the issue. The terminal manager made all attempts to resolve it, but Oshiomhole rebuffed everything, making it impossible to find a solution.”

The situation escalated to the point where a management meeting was called to plead with Oshiomhole, who had effectively shut down the Zulu Terminal. The tension in the air was palpable as staff scrambled to restore order and resume normal operations.

The General Aviation Terminal (GAT) serves as a hub for domestic airlines in Lagos, operating from two main terminals: Murtala Mohammed 1 (MM1) and Murtala Mohammed 2 (MM2).

The Zulu Terminal, which was formerly known as the old Ikeja Airport before its relocation to the GAT after a fire incident in 2000, is the primary domestic wing of MMIA. It handles flights to key destinations across Nigeria, including Abuja, Benin, Asaba, Port Harcourt, Ilorin, Enugu, Calabar, Uyo, Owerri, and Yola.

In 2023, the federal government completed a N2.2 billion expansion of the terminal, increasing its capacity fourfold—from 254 to 1,024 passengers—under the supervision of then Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika.

General Manager of Public Affairs at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Ijeoma Blessing Nwosu-Igbo,

stated she was unaware of the incident, emphasizing that MM2 is a privately owned terminal. “I don’t work for MM2; I work for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria. And I am not aware of this incident unless they reported it to us. I can’t speak for MM2,” she said.

Attempts to contact Air Peace spokesperson, Dr. Ejike Ndiulo, were unsuccessful, as were efforts to reach Regional General Manager South-West, Olatokunbo Arewa, for Murtala Muhammed International Airport.