The Federal Government has announced that Fuji music icon, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM 1, will serve as an ambassador for proper airport security protocols following his recent altercation with aviation officials at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed the decision on Wednesday in a statement detailing resolutions to recent incidents of unruly behaviour in Nigeria’s airports.
According to Keyamo, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has reduced KWAM 1’s six-month flight ban to one month and will partner with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to engage the musician in public awareness campaigns on acceptable conduct within the aviation sector.
“The NCAA is to reduce his flight ban to a one-month period. FAAN will also work with the music star to engage him as an ambassador for proper airport security protocol going forward,” the statement read.
The minister added that the NCAA would also withdraw its criminal complaint against the singer, noting that the decision followed appeals from prominent individuals and KWAM 1’s public show of remorse over the August 5 incident.
The confrontation, which occurred as KWAM 1 attempted to board a ValueJet flight to Lagos, allegedly involved the musician carrying a prohibited flask suspected to contain alcohol, spilling its contents on airline personnel, and later walking onto the tarmac to obstruct the aircraft’s movement.
KWAM 1 has since apologised, explaining that the flask contained water for medical purposes, not alcohol, as alleged by security staff.
Keyamo emphasised that the government’s leniency was granted on compassionate grounds but warned that aviation safety and security laws would continue to be strictly enforced.
