Abuja, Nigeria— Former Aviation Minister, Osita Chidoka, has criticized the federal government for appointing Fuji musician King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (KWAM 1) and Comfort Emmanson as Airport Security Ambassadors despite their recent unruly behaviour at Nigerian airports.
In a strongly worded statement titled “Slapping the State: Nigeria’s Descent into Anarchy” and shared on his Facebook page on August 18, 2025, Chidoka described the move as a dangerous precedent that undermines the rule of law.
According to him, government’s decision to forgive and even honour individuals involved in acts of indiscipline represents an “inversion of accountability.” He argued that when offenders are rewarded instead of punished, it erodes public trust in institutions and signals that the well-connected are above the law.
“The moment a citizen attacks or obstructs an officer, it ceases to be about the original dispute,” Chidoka stated. “It becomes an assault on the Nigerian state. That must never be excused or glorified.”
He recalled his tenure as Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), where he enforced strict disciplinary measures against both officers and offenders. While over 300 FRSC staff were dismissed for misconduct through a transparent complaints process, citizens who attacked officers faced immediate legal consequences.
Chidoka lamented the contrast with Nigeria’s aviation sector today, where celebrities and elites often face no repercussions for misconduct. He cited the case of an Ibom Air passenger who slapped a crew member and another involving KWAM 1, who blocked an aircraft from taking off. “Would they have dared such behaviour in a foreign airport or embassy?” he asked.
Drawing comparisons with global standards, Chidoka pointed to the swift arrest and suspension of a Southwest Airlines pilot in the United States after being suspected of alcohol influence earlier this year. He stressed that Nigeria’s drawn-out investigations and political interference in such cases only weaken safety culture.
He further called on security and regulatory agencies to publish complaint hotlines, ensure officers display redress numbers, and mount a national campaign to encourage lawful grievance procedures instead of confrontations.
“The federal government must stop canonising misbehaviour,” he warned. “Protecting workers and upholding due process is the only way to rebuild trust and preserve state authority.”
Chidoka concluded by urging the presidency, National Assembly, and judiciary to treat every unpunished assault on officers as a step towards anarchy and state failure.
By Makinde oyinkansola| August 20, 2025
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