Joe Igbokwe, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has expressed frustration over what he describes as the rampant extortion practices by domestic airlines in Nigeria.
His comments follow a public spat between Senator Adams Oshiomhole and Air Peace on Wednesday. The lawmaker accused the airline of deliberately frustrating passengers—including himself—by denying boarding access to those with online check-ins, while allegedly favoring others who paid extra for emergency services.
Oshiomhole claimed that despite arriving at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 (Zulu Hall) with a valid ticket and completing online check-in, he and several passengers were stopped from boarding the Lagos to Abuja flight.
He said airline staff offered to “sort him out” after realizing his identity, but he rejected the offer, insisting on fair treatment for all.
“I don’t want personal favors,” Oshiomhole reportedly told the airline’s senior manager.
Reacting via a Facebook post, Igbokwe supported Oshiomhole’s claims, revealing that he, too, was once a victim of such treatment during a trip to Enugu.
“What HE Adams Oshiomhole discovered has been a reoccurring decimal for years now,” Igbokwe wrote.
“I was once a victim because I made public my encounter with them on my trip to Enugu.”
The incident has sparked broader public debate over alleged unethical practices by local airlines, with many passengers sharing similar complaints about discriminatory boarding policies and hidden charges.
