The Chairman of Nigeria’s Senate Committee on Aviation, Buhari Abdulfatai, has voiced deep concern over a string of recent confrontations between airline staff and passengers, warning that such incidents threaten operational standards, passenger rights, and public trust in the aviation sector.
In a statement on Wednesday, Abdulfatai called for “immediate and coordinated action” to safeguard the integrity of the industry and restore public confidence.
He said the committee, exercising its constitutional mandate, will summon regulators, airline operators, security agencies, and public interest groups to establish the facts, review operational procedures, and implement swift corrective measures.
“We will not allow procedural gaps or lapses in enforcement to undermine safety, professionalism, or public trust in our aviation system,” Abdulfatai declared, adding that the committee would maintain active oversight and push for enforceable solutions to prevent future incidents.
The move follows a series of high-profile altercations in recent months. On August 5, Fuji music star Wasiu Ayinde (KWAM 1) drew headlines after allegedly blocking a ValueJet aircraft from taxiing at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
Days later, a passenger identified as Comfort Emmanson was accused of assaulting cabin crew members aboard an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos.
With tensions between travelers and aviation personnel making frequent headlines, the Senate committee’s probe aims to address the underlying causes and ensure that both passenger rights and airline operations are upheld to the highest standard.
