ABUJA, Nigeria — Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, the Fuji music legend popularly known as KWAM 1, has publicly apologised for an altercation at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport while maintaining that the flask he carried contained only water, not alcohol as alleged by authorities.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, led to his placement on a six-month no-fly list by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo warned airlines that violating the ban could result in licence revocation.
At a press briefing on Friday, August 8, 2025, the 68-year-old singer described the confrontation as “unfortunate” and attributed his insistence on carrying the flask to a medical condition.
“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,” he said.
“Contrary to the negative narrative being circulated in some quarters, the flask contained only water, not alcohol.”
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had accused KWAM 1 of attempting to board a ValueJet Airlines flight with an “unidentified liquid substance”, ignoring warnings from aviation security (AVSEC) and crew.
FAAN also claimed he spilled liquid on personnel during inspection.
The altercation prompted the suspension of two ValueJet pilots—Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and First Officer Ivan Oloba—for taxiing the aircraft while KWAM 1 stood on the tarmac, a breach of safety protocols.
Minister Keyamo, who labelled KWAM 1’s actions “akin to a hostage situation” in an earlier statement, reiterated on Thursday that the blacklist would stand.
