Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North Senatorial District, has called on the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Ministry of Aviation, and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) to urgently enforce passenger rights and stop what he described as systemic extortion by local airlines.
Speaking at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Oshiomhole pushed back against claims by Air Peace accusing him of disrupting its operations. Instead, he accused the airline of ticket racketeering and denial of boarding despite proper check-in procedures.
“I checked in online and arrived 40 minutes before departure, yet I was denied boarding,” said the former Edo State governor.
According to him, passengers who arrived after him were allowed on board after allegedly paying up to ₦250,000 on the spot, while those who paid the regular fare online were denied access.
“This is ruthless, primitive capitalism. Nigerians are unprotected. The government must act,” he warned.
He added, “When people give up hope, bullets will not stop them. The least a government can do is to protect its citizens from exploitation.”
The senator called on the NCAA and Ministry of Aviation to carry out independent investigations into airline booking practices and to sanction erring operators found guilty of unethical conduct.
