Until recently, it was rare to see passengers in Nigerian airports face real consequences for unruly behaviour.
Staff were often on the receiving end of insults or even physical harassment, while management hesitated to sanction offending travellers for fear of losing customers.
It was not unusual to see passengers demand the dismissal of airport staff as if they were beyond reproach. But the tide appears to be turning as recent events suggest a new chapter in Nigerian aviation; one where passengers can now face bans, prosecution, and even jail time.
The case of Fuji legend King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM 1, was one of the first signs of this shift.
On August 5, 2025, he was deboarded from a ValueJet flight at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport after a dispute over carrying a prohibited flask.
According to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), he ignored safety protocols, spilled alcohol on an aviation security officer, and disrupted operations.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) responded with a six-month ban from all Nigerian airports.
KWAM 1 denied the allegations, insisting the flask contained only water, and the investigation is ongoing.
Barely 72 hours later came another headline-grabbing incident, this time on Ibom Air.
Comfort Emmanson, a passenger on a Uyo-to-Lagos flight, allegedly refused to switch off her phone before take-off, verbally abused staff, and upon landing, physically attacked the purser, slapping her repeatedly, tearing off her wig, and attempting to seize a fire extinguisher.
The airline says she also attacked other crew members and security personnel.
Ibom Air responded by placing a permanent travel ban on her, while authorities charged her to court. She is currently cooling off at Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
What makes these cases stand out is that until now, strict punitive measures against passengers were rare in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
In 2024, FAAN launched Operation Air Clean, a reform package aimed at tackling touting, harassment, and misconduct in airports.
It introduced mobile courts, instant penalties for offenders, and better passenger service infrastructure. But the official policy did not explicitly spell out punishments for passengers, focusing instead on erring staff and unauthorised operators.
So, are these recent bans and arrests simply regulators and airlines using existing laws more aggressively, or have we entered a new phase of enforcement inspired by the spirit of the 2024 reforms? And if this is the new normal, is it the result of a deliberate policy shift or just a growing resolve to protect crew and safety rules, even at the risk of offending paying customers?
The above clearly shows that the days when passengers could misbehave without consequence may have come to an end.
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