Oshiomhole Causes Airport Disruption After Missing Early Morning Flight

Senator Adams Oshiomhole, former governor of Edo State and current lawmaker representing Edo North, reportedly caused major disruption at the Zulu Terminal of the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Wednesday after arriving late for his scheduled flight to Abuja.

Sources at the airport said Oshiomhole showed up after the check-in time for a 6:30 a.m. Air Peace flight and subsequently blocked the terminal entrance, preventing other passengers from accessing the facility.

Despite several pleas from the terminal manager to allow normal operations to continue, the senator allegedly refused to move, prompting the intervention of the airport’s regional manager. Eyewitnesses described the scene as tense and chaotic, with airport officials scrambling to de-escalate the situation.

“The senator missed the flight. He was late, but rather than accept it, he insisted on being allowed to board. When the airline refused to accommodate him, he blocked the terminal,” said one source.

Air Peace, citing its strict adherence to check-in procedures, reportedly declined to delay the flight or make special accommodations for the senator.

An emergency management meeting was held in an attempt to convince Oshiomhole to step aside so operations could resume. Passengers were left stranded as access to the terminal remained restricted during the incident.

The Zulu Terminal, formerly the old Ikeja Airport building, now serves as a major domestic flight hub and operates alongside the Alpha Hall within the GAT. Flights from the terminal connect Lagos to major cities such as Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, and Benin.

In 2023, the terminal underwent a N2.2 billion expansion to quadruple its capacity under the Federal Government’s supervision.