My case with Air Peace by Adams Oshiomole

Senator Adams Oshiomhole has narrated his personal ordeal with Air Peace airline at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, revealing how both he and several other passengers were denied boarding for a scheduled flight despite checking in on time — while the airline allegedly sold fresh tickets at inflated prices.

In a detailed account, Oshiomhole said he had previously suffered a five-hour flight delay by Air Peace, which ended in a cancellation. Determined to avoid a repeat, he booked a 6:30 a.m. flight for the following day and completed his online check-in along with two Ghanaian travelers.

He explained that he arrived at the airport at exactly 6:05 a.m. for his 6:30 a.m. flight only to be told that boarding had closed. Despite presenting his online check-in confirmation and confirming he had no luggage to check in, he was turned away while observing that other people were still being allowed into the boarding area.

Disturbed by the scene, Oshiomhole questioned the rationale of shutting the boarding gate early, pointing out that the very essence of online check-in was to allow for seamless boarding. While arguing with airline staff, he noticed a disturbing trend: people who had bought tickets online for about N146,000 were being denied access while the airline allegedly sold fresh tickets at rates between N200,000 and N300,000 to willing new customers.

Oshiomhole cited the case of a woman who arrived at 5:55 a.m. with her infant child, only to be denied boarding while other higher-paying customers were allowed in. He revealed how airport security and airline management later intervened and offered both him and the woman spots on a later flight — but only after demanding an extra N109,100 from the woman, on top of her original ticket fare.

According to the senator, the real issue wasn’t about his personal experience, but about standing up for ordinary Nigerians facing systemic exploitation at the hands of unregulated service providers. He declined offers for preferential treatment, insisting that the airline apply the same rules fairly to all passengers.

Oshiomhole said the entire incident was a clear case of commercial extortion, lamenting how regulatory agencies had failed to protect ordinary citizens from such predatory practices. He called for urgent government intervention, warning that continued public exploitation could trigger broader social unrest.

Full statement reads:

“I booked Air Peace… They delayed the flight for over five hours. In the end, they announced a cancellation. I had to get another ticket. Yesterday, I booked a flight for 6:30 a.m., which is their first flight today. I booked and asked them to check me in online, which I did, along with two other Ghanaians who met me in Lagos. We checked in online just to avoid the last-minute issues I’ve had with them a couple of times.

“I got there at about five minutes past six. They told me the counter was closed. I told them, ‘No, I’ve already checked in.’ I showed them the evidence of my online check-in. Even before then, they had asked if I had checked in, and I told them ‘yes’, and that I had no luggage. They looked at it but still said the gate had been closed. Meanwhile, I noticed they were still taking other people in.

“So, I asked, ‘How can you close boarding for a 6:30 flight at 6:05? What is the purpose of online check-in, then?’ If I had to go through another check-in process, then what’s the point of checking in online?

“While speaking to them, I saw many men and women who had been there even before me, with similar experiences. Basically, they were selling tickets on the spot at higher prices. I’ll give you an example. A lady bought her ticket for N146,000 online. She arrived at the airport at 5:55 a.m. for the 6:30 a.m. flight, after the gatemen had delayed her.

“They told her she was late and that the counter had closed for check-in. She said that was impossible, as it wasn’t even 6:00 a.m. They told her she would be put on the next flight. She protested, saying, ‘Why? Put me on this flight.’ But they told her the flight was full and she would have to wait.

“Meanwhile, the airline was selling tickets on the spot for between N200,000 and N300,000. To take advantage of the situation, they discouraged those who had bought tickets online at lower rates and sold to people willing to pay more.

“I asked the manager, ‘What is this woman’s crime? She has a baby that’s no more than six months old. How can you refuse to board her when the aircraft is still on the ground and more people are buying tickets?’ You cannot continue like this. Tomorrow, everyone will blame the government. You have regulatory agencies, and they are all compromising. You cannot board people buying tickets on the spot and deny those who booked days ago or checked in online.

“By the time the DSS and Air Force personnel came to find out what happened, they intervened and offered to put the woman on the next flight—the same offer they had made to me earlier. But to board that next flight, they told her she would have to pay N109,100. This was in addition to the original N146,000 ticket, meaning she would spend about N256,000 for a one-hour flight to Abuja. There were many others in the same situation, and everyone was shouting at the airport.

“I said to the manager, ‘You must follow the rules.’ Many people were stranded, except those who could afford another ticket. I followed the woman to the counter and told her to do whatever they asked. Those of us who were also prevented from flying gathered there. Even when an officer offered me access to a lounge, people around said, ‘Comrade, please don’t leave—this is how they’ve been treating us.’

“I had to send that woman N500,000. That’s basically what happened. I told them this cannot be allowed. I checked in online and arrived on time. The aircraft hadn’t taken off. I’m not supposed to check in twice. The rowdiness arose because many people were denied boarding while tickets were being sold on the spot to others.”