Senator Adams Oshiomhole, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, addressed allegations on Wednesday regarding his supposed disruption of Air Peace operations. He asserted that he was merely opposing preferential treatment and the pervasive extortion and poor service prevalent in the aviation sector.
Air Peace had accused the senator of causing operational issues after he failed to board Flight P47120, scheduled for 6:30 a.m. Oshiomhole countered this, revealing his own experiences that he felt highlighted the lack of respect for passenger rights.
He provided evidence to support his claim that he arrived at the airport in good time for a 6:50 p.m. flight, yet was denied a boarding pass despite meeting the check-in requirements. “I was there 40 minutes early, yet they stopped issuing passes while others were allowed to board,” he recounted.
In a subsequent attempt to travel, he faced further complications due to a last-minute alteration in the airline’s check-in policy, leading to confusion and frustration among passengers. “What’s the purpose of online check-in if you close the gates early?” he questioned.
Oshiomhole also reported instances where passengers were pressured into purchasing tickets at inflated prices, calling it a clear case of exploitation rather than policy enforcement. “This is not just unfair; it’s extortion,” he stated, emphasising the need for accountability within the airline industry.