By Frank Ulom
ABUJA (CONVERSEER) – The Federal Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has revealed that the government will be compensating fuji music star Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (popularly known as KWAM 1) with an ambassadorial appointment.
Recall that there was a recent stir at the Abuja Airport between KWAM 1 and ValueJet, resulting in the flight ban on the music icon.
However, a statement by Keyamo on Wednesday clears KWAM 1 of criminal complaints made against him by the NCAA.
The statement said, “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.
“Having publicly demonstrated penitence, the NCAA is also to withdraw its criminal complaints against KWAM 1 earlier lodged with the Police.’
In the case of Captain Oluranti Ogoyi, and the co-pilot, First Officer Ivan Oloba of ValueJet, Keyamo said “the NCAA is to restore their licenses after the same period of one-month ban after undergoing some mandatory professional re-appraisal.”
Keyamo, who described the recent incidents at the airports as “unfortunate”, said valuable lessons have been learnt, even though they are regrettable.
He also said the Federal Government has conferred with Ibom Airline to withdraw the complaint against Comfort Emmanson, a passenger recently involved in a tussle at the Lagos Airport.
According to the statement, “Subsequent to the withdrawal of the complaint by the Complainant, the CP of Airport Command and the Police Prosecutor will immediately take the remaining steps to facilitate her release from Kirikiri Prisons within this week.
“I have also conferred with the leadership of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) and have appealed to them to lift the lifetime flying ban imposed on her, to which they agreed.”
Keyamo further directed all relevant Aviation agencies, in collaboration with other complementary agencies outside aviation, to immediately begin a retreat next week to properly retrain and prepare the Aviation security personnel on how to deal with errant and disruptive passengers and how to de-escalate potentially explosive situations.
He maintained that, “These above decisions were taken by the Government and the airline operators purely on compassionate grounds as the government will never pander to base sentiments, politically-motivated views or warped legal opinions when clear encroachment of our laws is involved.”
“We are also sending a clear message that we take safety and security in the aviation sector very seriously and we have decided to draw a line after these clemencies.”
