One of the aircraft acquired by the Enugu state government and operated by a scheduled commercial operator, XEJET Airlines
By Olawale Olaleye
An Enugu Air flight from Abuja to Lagos, on Saturday morning, 16th of August 2025, nearly created another mishap akin to KWAM1 and KWAM2, which was averted. It was a mild playlet that occurred briefly on the aircraft, which was on the taxiway for takeoff.
As the plane taxied, the Pilot, a female captain, announced that there was a recalcitrant passenger who had declined advice to switch off his phone. The flight commander’s velvet voice added a tone of finality, suggesting that if the passenger insisted, she might be left with no option but to make a U-turn.
At this point, she had stopped on the runway.
Hearing this warning, other passengers took it upon themselves and started shouting at this potentially disruptive passenger. Eventually, he turned off his phone – what a near miss of KWAM3- and the journey to Lagos continued in peace and tranquillity. No golden flask erupted anywhere in the cabin until disembarkation at Lagos airport.
But here is why this piece becomes compelling and timely. While the purser, a calm, amiable, and well-mannered lady, was appealing to him to turn off his phone, and he refused vehemently. Hear what he said to the senior cabin crew member: “Wetin happen for Ibom Air go happen for here Now!! Now!!!.”
That’s the result of having a poor reward and sanction system with no consequences. If those who had tried this nonsense had faced the penalties for their action and not the shameful “slap on the wrist” punishment meted out to them, another irreverent passenger would not open his mouth and say, “Wetin happen for Ibom Air go happen for here now now.”
No serious nation tramples on its own laws or chooses when to enforce it or not, and against whom. The two recent breaches in air safety protocols and their handling have shown how unserious we are as a people and also why our leadership will continue to create strong individuals, as against strong institutions. There is no iota of doubt that the less edifying path government chose to thread in its justice administration is a conscious decision towards selective empowerment. It has never been an accident.
With the disastrous handling of the K1 and the K2 matters, even though no attention was given to the incident tagged K3, a template has been created already and it will haunt the Aviation Sector for a long time to come. The shame is not just for the leadership. The people, too will share a large chunk of it as intentional enablers of bad behaviour.
The management of XEJET, a commercial airline operator, operates aircraft in the fleet of Enugu Air
Fans and supporters of the Fuji king are now buying similar gold flasks as a form of solidarity with him, displaying it with arrogance of “na we dey power.” Also, practically every money-miss-road, including government officials, have continue to fall over one another to offer seemingly succour to “Auntie Komfot”. Comfort in different forms, shapes and sizes are still pouring for sister Comfort and obviously because…….
However, at the time when it matters most and for virtuous cause, such people will never offer similar encouragement to outstanding students in any academic or technological pursuit. We celebrate silly things and reward bad behaviours at the expense of more edifying tangibles and intangibles.
Indeed, Nigeria and its people are a case study in human civilisation.
Author: Olawale Olaleye is the Deputy Editor, ThisDay Newspaper
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