See What Happened When Oshiomhole Was Denied Boarding at Lagos Airport

Senator Adams Oshiomhole, former governor of Edo State and current lawmaker representing Edo North, was at the centre of an airport disruption on Wednesday morning after reportedly missing his scheduled flight to Abuja.

The incident occurred at the Zulu Terminal of the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos. According to multiple eyewitnesses, the senator arrived late for an early morning Air Peace flight, which was scheduled to depart at 6:30 a.m. By the time he reached the terminal, the aircraft had already taken off.

Rather than accept the missed flight, Oshiomhole and members of his security detail allegedly caused a scene by blocking the departure area, preventing other passengers from accessing boarding gates.

A witness described the scene as tense, with travelers held up for several minutes while airport officials tried to de-escalate the standoff. It reportedly took the intervention of the airport’s regional manager to restore order and allow normal operations to resume.

One X (formerly Twitter) user, @n6oflife6, who claimed to have witnessed the ordeal firsthand, posted:

“Adams Oshiomhole caused serious problems at MM1 this morning. He came late for his flight, and after the plane took off, he and his security team blocked the departure point, insisting nobody else should fly out until they sorted him out. I never see this kind of thing before.”

The post quickly gained traction on social media, sparking a wave of criticism against the senator and the broader culture of VIP entitlement at Nigerian airports. Many users expressed frustration over how public officeholders often flout rules that ordinary citizens are expected to follow.

Some also questioned Air Peace’s operational protocol, with one user, @GideonBalotelli, asking:

“Arriving at approximately 6:10 for a flight scheduled for 6:30 isn’t bad at all. That’s 20 minutes before departure. How come the plane left already?”

Watch the clip:

However, aviation experts pointed out that domestic airlines typically close boarding 30 minutes before departure to meet operational safety and regulatory requirements.

As of press time, Senator Oshiomhole has not issued a public statement addressing the incident.

The episode has revived debate over VIP conduct and accountability in public spaces, with many Nigerians calling for better enforcement of airport protocols and consequences for unruly behavior—regardless of status or office.

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