The minister of aviation Festus Keyamo, says the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria will appoint Fuji music star Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as KWAM 1, as an ambassador for airport security protocols.
In a statement on Wednesday, Keyamo said the initiative aims to enlist celebrities in promoting proper conduct at airports nationwide.
“In the case of KWAM 1, the NCAA is to reduce his flight ban to a one-month period. FAAN will also work with the music star with a view to engaging him as an ambassador for proper airport security protocol going forward,” the statement reads.
“Having publicly demonstrated penitence, the NCAA is also to withdraw its criminal complaints against KWAM 1 earlier lodged with the police.”
The minister added that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has reduced KWAM 1’s flight ban to one month and will also withdraw the criminal complaints previously filed with the police against the artiste.
The development follows the artiste’s apology, in which he clarified that the flask he was holding contained medically prescribed water, not alcohol, as alleged by airport officials.
On August 5, the NCAA suspended two ValueJet pilots over a safety breach at the airport’s domestic terminal, later traced to the disorderly conduct of KWAM 1, who was on board the flight.
Keyamo subsequently directed the agency to place the musician on a no-fly list pending the outcome of a full investigation.
The NCAA also petitioned the attorney-general of the federation and the inspector-general of police to investigate the incident involving the airline and the Fuji star.
In his latest statement, the minister said he has directed aviation agencies to hold a retreat to retrain security personnel on managing unruly passengers and defusing tense situations before they escalate.
Keyamo stressed that the decisions were taken on compassionate grounds but maintained that the government will “never pander to base sentiments, politically motivated views, or warped legal opinions when clear encroachment of our laws is involved.”
