“My Story with Air Peace” – Oshiomhole Speaks Out
By The Insight Team
Senator Adams Oshiomhole, former Edo State Governor, has spoken out about what he describes as “unacceptable treatment” by Nigerian carrier Air Peace, following a string of frustrating travel experiences at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed Airport.
Sharing his ordeal, Oshiomhole said it began with a long delay that ended in disappointment.
“I booked Air Peace. They delayed the flight for over five hours. In the end, they announced a cancellation. I had to get another ticket,” he recounted.
When I saw the publication from Air Peace I knew something was fishy.
We all know Air Peace and their history poor flight management. Now, there’s a tag for highest bidders.
Oshiomhole rejected the “Oga treatment”,but insisted everyone be treated right.
pic.twitter.com/CcdTlw9bIi— High Chief Okoro 👑 (SiR LaW) (@HighChiefOkoro) June 12, 2025
But things got worse the next day.
“Yesterday, I booked a flight for 6:30 a.m., which is their first flight today. I checked in online along with two Ghanaians who met me in Lagos. I got there at about five minutes past six. They told me the counter was closed,” he said.
Despite checking in online and arriving before the scheduled departure, Oshiomhole said he was denied boarding.
“Meanwhile, I noticed they were still taking other people in. I asked, ‘How can you close boarding for a 6:30 flight at 6:05? What is the purpose of online check-in then?’”
They were selling tickets on the spot for between N200,000 and N300,000. A lady who bought a ticket for N146,000 was told to pay another N109,100 after being denied boarding.
He also alleged that the airline was reselling seats at inflated rates.
“They were selling tickets on the spot for between N200,000 and N300,000. A lady who bought a ticket for N146,000 was told to pay another N109,100 after being denied boarding. That’s N256,000 for a one-hour flight.”
Moved by the situation, the senator said he stepped in to help.
“People around said, ‘Comrade, please don’t leave, this is how they’ve been treating us.’ I had to send that woman N500,000. That’s basically what happened.”
Tomorrow, everyone will blame the government. You have regulatory agencies, and they are all compromising
Oshiomhole also criticized regulators for failing to act. “Tomorrow, everyone will blame the government. You have regulatory agencies, and they are all compromising,” he said.
In a statement titled “Unruly Conduct By Prominent Politician At Lagos Airport,” the airline said the senator arrived too late to board.
“The individual arrived at Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 (Zulu Hall) at approximately 06:10 AM for Flight P47120 scheduled to depart at 06:30 AM. Boarding had closed and the flight departed as scheduled,” the statement read.
The airline accused Oshiomhole of causing disruption. “This unacceptable behavior caused significant disruption to ongoing operations and affected numerous travelers scheduled for various flights,” it said.
Air Peace defended its policies, stressing:
“The safety of our staff and passengers is non-negotiable.”
While Air Peace defended its actions, much of the online reaction appeared to favour Oshiomhole and other affected passengers.
On X (formerly Twitter), @GentleMan criticized the timing of the airline’s response.
So you decided to release a statement at 1am? When most people are asleep and this statement will probably be lost in algorithm before people wake up…lol funny airline. You’re obviously hiding something because you don’t want the publicity of this issue. Hiding it from people 😂
— Omo Ghana✨🦉 (@GentlemanBright) June 12, 2025
“So you decided to release a statement at 1 a.m.? When most people are asleep and this statement will probably be lost in the algorithm before people wake up… lol funny airline. You’re obviously hiding something because you don’t want the publicity of this issue.”
Another user, @emaediong, questioned the decision to deny boarding to someone who had already checked in.
“How can you be late for a flight you have already checked in, and you are at the airport???? … You caused the problem!!!!!”
@ng_gwg praised the senator for standing his ground. “Then he was right when he said your managers tried to give him preferential treatment. He refused it and chose to stand up for the rights of other passengers. Meanwhile, there have been numerous delays and cancellations associated with your airline,” he said.
The controversy has caught the attention of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), which is now investigating Air Peace over a growing number of consumer complaints.
PRESS STATEMENT: 16/06/2025#BetterDealWithAirPeace pic.twitter.com/AqI8Tfr0ka
— Air Peace (@flyairpeace) June 16, 2025
In a statement shared with The Insight on Monday, the FCCPC summoned Air Peace over alleged failure to refund passengers for cancelled flights.
“The Commission has received a deluge of consumer complaints from across the country relating to the non-refund of ticket fares, even in instances where the airline had cancelled its flight operations,” said Ondaje Ijagwu, Director of Corporate Affairs.
The Commission warned that these actions may violate Sections 130(1)(a), 130(1)(b), and 130(2)(b) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018, which guarantee the right to a refund when a prepaid service is not delivered.
“These sections enshrine the principle of fair dealing and safeguard consumers against unfair, unjust, or unreasonable practices,” the FCCPC stated.
Citing Sections 32 and 33 of the FCCPA, the Commission issued a formal summons dated June 13, 2025, requiring Air Peace to appear before it in Abuja on Monday, June 23.
FCCPC Summons Air Peace Over Non-Refund of Ticket Fares
Monday, June 16, 2025: The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has summoned the management of Air Peace Limited over a deluge of consumer complaints from across the country relating to the… pic.twitter.com/p4IYDxwZYI
— FCCPC Nigeria (@fccpcnigeria) June 16, 2025
Section 33(3) mandates full compliance, with failure to do so attracting “severe sanctions including fines or imprisonment.”
To aid its investigation, the Commission has directed the airline to submit the following: A log of refund complaints received in the last 12 months; records of processed refunds; a list of all cancelled domestic and international flights within the period; and evidence of steps taken to reduce hardship for affected passengers
This inquiry follows an earlier investigation launched in December 2024, in which the Commission accused the airline of “exploitative ticket pricing,” particularly for advance bookings. Air Peace responded to that case with a lawsuit to halt the probe.
We remain committed to enforcing the FCCPA and holding service providers accountable
But the FCCPC made it clear: “This is an entirely different matter.”
Reaffirming its resolve, the Commission added: “We remain committed to enforcing the FCCPA and holding service providers accountable. Consumers, including airline passengers, must be protected from exploitative or unfair market practices.”
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