Renowned Fuji musician King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM 1 or K1 De Ultimate has tendered an unreserved apology over the ugly incident at the airport on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.
In a statement signed by the singer, he tendered apologies to all concerned but firmly insists that he didn’t have alcohol in his flask but water.
He also tendered an apology to the Presidency, Aviation ministry, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) as well as Value Jet.
The statement in full below;
“The incident that occurred at the local wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on August 5, 2025, involving my humble self and ValueJet Airline, was to say the least, unfortunate.
“Unknown to many, I suffer from chronic dehydration, and my doctor strongly advised that I remain constantly hydrated. This is why I always carry a water flask with me. And contrary to the negative narrative being circulated in some quarters, the flask I carried on that particular day contained only water not alcohol, as wrongly alleged.
“For the record, I passed through two security screenings with the flask empty. The flask was only filled with water at the lounge area, just before heading to the tarmac. This fact can be verified by the CCTV footage at the airport lounge. More so, I hadn’t even boarded the plane, let alone being deboarded.
“However, I acknowledge and deeply regret the concerns that arose from the incident. It was never my intention to cause any disruption or violate aviation protocols in any way.
“My unwavering patriotism and unshaken loyalty to the Federal Republic of Nigeria have never been in doubt.
“To the Presidency, Ministry of Aviation, FAAN, NCAA, ValueJet, fellow Nigerians, and my teeming fans across the world who have shown great concern since the incident happened, I tender my unreserved and heartfelt apology.”
Recall, FAAN through its spokesperson, Obiageli Orah, had accused KWAM1 of bringing an alcoholic beverage on board, which is an offence that violates aviation regulations.
The singer was scheduled to board a morning flight from Abuja to Lagos on August 5, 2025, however, when the Aviation security personnel stopped him after attempting to carry a flask onto the plane, a confrontation ensued, with KWAM 1 reportedly spilling the contents of the flask on a security officer and refusing to step aside for clarification which led to a heated argument that almost became physical with the pilot.
Consequently, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) blacklisted the singer for six months on Thursday, while the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who described the singer’s behaviour as unacceptable, gave a directive that any airline that flies Kwam1 stands the risk of losing its operational license.
