Air Peace Under Fire: Oshiomhole Claims Airline Sold Tickets at Inflated Prices

Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North and former governor of Edo State, has voiced serious allegations against Air Peace over a disrupted travel experience at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1.

Speaking to Vanguard, Oshiomhole recounted that despite checking in online for a 6:30 a.m. flight to Abuja, he and several others were denied boarding by the airline. He alleged that Air Peace staff were turning away already-checked-in passengers while reselling tickets on-site at significantly inflated rates.

The airline, in a separate statement, claimed Oshiomhole missed his flight and caused a disturbance. However, the former Nigeria Labour Congress president offered a different account, insisting that the airline deliberately frustrated passengers and prioritized new buyers willing to pay up to N300,000 for tickets—far above the original online prices.

Oshiomhole stated he had checked in online with two Ghanaian associates to avoid past issues with the airline. Arriving slightly after 6:00 a.m., he was informed that boarding was closed, despite showing proof of his check-in and having no luggage. According to him, other passengers faced similar rejections, even when they arrived before him.

One example he cited involved a woman with an infant who had purchased a ticket for N146,000 and arrived at 5:55 a.m., only to be denied boarding. She was later told she would have to pay an additional N109,100 for the next flight, totaling over N250,000 for a one-hour journey.

Oshiomhole criticized the airline for exploiting passengers and bypassing standard protocols, claiming they catered only to those who could pay exorbitant prices on the spot. He also decried the inaction of regulatory bodies and said the situation caused significant unrest at the terminal.

“I eventually gave the woman N500,000 to assist her,” he said. “This isn’t just about me—many were stranded while others were allowed on board simply because they paid more. We must insist on accountability. I did everything right, checked in online, and arrived on time. Yet, I wasn’t allowed to board.”

He concluded by urging relevant authorities to investigate and regulate the airline’s conduct to protect Nigerian travelers from further mistreatment.