Travel/Tourism
NCAA Asks AGF, IGP to Prosecute K1 De Ultimate for Flight Disruption
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has petitioned the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Kayode Egbetokun; over the disruption of a flight at an Abuja airport on Tuesday by a famous musician, Mr Wasiu Ayinde, otherwise known as K1 De Ultimate or KWAM 1 .
The spokesman of the NCAA, Mr Michael Achimugu, said Mr Ayinde’s attempt to block a moving ValueJet aircraft violated Nigeria’s civil aviation regulations, asking for his prosecution to serve as a deterrent to others.
Mr Ayinde is a staunch supporter of President Bola Tinubu and has performed at rallies for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In its letter to the AGF and the IGP, the NCAA called for a “comprehensive criminal investigation and the initiation of appropriate prosecution in accordance with the provisions of the Nigeria Civil Aviation regulations (Nig. CARs) 2023 supra and all other applicable laws”.
Earlier on Thursday, the civil aviation regulator slammed a six-month ban on the singer, warning that any local or international airline that flies him risks its license being withdrawn.
The Minister of Aviation, Mr Festus Keyamo, has also condemned in strict words, the unruly behaviour of the Fuji maestro, saying his act of blocking a moving aircraft was unacceptable and reprehensible.
Recall that the NCAA on Wednesday suspended two ValueJet pilots for unsafe behaviour at the airport during the incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Tuesday.
The pilots had taxied the plane while Mr Ayinde was visibly seen in viral videos and a clip shared on X by the minister blocking the aircraft.
According to FAAN, trouble started when Mr Ayinde was prevented from boarding the Lagos-bound flight because he held a flask with an alleged alcoholic content, which the 68-year-old entertainer was accused of spilling on an aviation staffer during a fit of rage.
In a post on X, Mr Keyamo said the NCAA was correct to suspend the two erring pilots, but he faulted the one-sided judgment, insisting that the unruly passenger be dealt with too.
“Contrary to what the agents of KWAM 1 has said, he constantly moved his position on the tarmac to actually blocked the aircraft from taxiing to take position on the runway for take-off. This is totally unacceptable behaviour.
“The issue of whether he was carrying water or alcohol is not even in issue at this point. It is the physical blockage of the aircraft from taxiing that is the reprehensible conduct here which akin to a hostage situation.
“In the circumstances, I have also directed the NCAA to place KWAM 1 on a no-fly list pending further and full investigation, just like the Captain and Pilot. All airlines, both domestic and international, should immediately be informed of this directive and anyone who flouts this directive risk the withdrawal of their operating license.”
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
About 14.12 per cent stake in Ikeja Hotel Plc has been acquired by Honeywell Group Limited, a notice on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited has revealed.
Honeywell Group took up the part of the hospitality firm through one of its affiliates known as HGL Real Estate Limited.
Ikeja Hotel, in the disclosure filed with the NGX on July 2, 2026, said the stake comprised 305,323,525 units of its equities.
“Ikeja Hotel hereby notifies the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the general public that it has received notification from HGL Real Estate Limited, an affiliate of Honeywell Group Limited, that it has acquired 305,323,525 units of Ikeja Hotel Plc’s shares, representing 14.12 per cent shareholding in the company,” the notice stated.
Ikeja Hotel is one of Nigeria’s leading hospitality investment and hotel management companies with premium hospitality assets.
It operates two leading hospitality organisations in Lagos, the Sheraton Lagos Hotel and Balmoral Convention Centre.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
About 10 hospitality establishments, including hotels and restaurants, were sealed on Wednesday by officials of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA).
The affected businesses are located in different locations in the Alimosho Local Government Area of the metropolis, Business Post learned from a statement from the agency.
It was stated that they were sealed by LASEPA for persistent violations of environmental regulations despite repeated warnings, abatement notices, and several opportunities to comply with the agency’s directives.
According to the notice, the enforcement exercise was carried out in line with the directives of the Lagos State government to ensure strict compliance with environmental laws and to safeguard public health.
The affected facilities were said to have breached various environmental regulations, including noise pollution, air pollution, unlawful discharge of untreated effluent, obstruction of official duties, among others.
LASEPA closed the premises of Granduer Meridian at Obasa Akiniyi Street, Oluwaga, Ipaja for non-compliance with the agency’s directives; Lasola (Spazio Bar), located on Ipaja Road, Fatolu Bus Stop, Ipaja, was sealed for noise pollution and non-compliance with directives; Millennium Restaurant, located at Gate Bus Stop, Ipaja, Ayobo, was shut down for non-compliance with directives; O2 Exquisite Suites & Tower on Jimoh Akinremi Street, Jimoh Bus Stop, Akowonjo, was sealed for non-compliance with directives; and Chirozz Hotel & Suites, located on Samuel Street, Akowonjo, by Vulcanizer Bus Stop, Egbeda, was closed for noise pollution and non-compliance with directives.
In addition, House 7 Hotel, located at Remi Akande Street, Egbeda, was sealed for non-compliance with LASEPA’s directives; House 48 on Isiba Oluwo Street, Egbeda, was sealed for non-compliance with directives; Exclusive Hotel, located at Ishan Kimishe, Akesan Bus Stop, was shut down by non-compliance with directives; Sabola Ventures Limited, Iocated at Km 11, LASU–Isheri Road, Igando, was shut down for operating without evidence of an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP), and discharging untreated effluent into public drains; and City Int’l Motel, located at Chief Olu-Adegbite Street, off Oladun Street, Council Bus Stop, Idimu, was sealed for non-compliance with directives.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Emirates has become the first airline cargo carrier to deploy the Boeing 777-300ERSF passenger-to-freighter converted aircraft.
The aircraft (A6-EBK) will enter commercial service with a flight from Hong Kong to Dubai carrying over 100 tonnes of cargo, a statement from the airline operator stated.
The converted Emirates Boeing 777-300ERSF offers 100 tonnes of payload capacity and 811 m³ of cargo volume, representing a 25 per cent increase in cargo volume over the Boeing 777-F production freighter.
At 47 pallet positions, the converted aircraft also accommodates 10 additional pallet positions when compared with the Boeing 777-F production freighter, making it ideal for transporting volumetric cargo such as e-commerce goods, which currently constitute around 20 per cent of global air cargo tonnage with further growth projected in the next few years.
The converted Boeing 777-300ERSF is the sixth new freighter, following five Boeing 777-F production freighters, to join Emirates SkyCargo’s fleet since March 2026.
As part of its ambitious expansion strategy, Emirates SkyCargo will also be taking delivery of five additional Boeing 777-F aircraft as well as one additional converted Boeing 777-300ERSF by December 2026.
Emirates SkyCargo will also be introducing three additional converted Boeing 777-ERSFs into its fleet in 2027.
“The induction of the first converted Emirates Boeing 777-300ERSF into operational service represents the next step in the expansion of our fleet and operational agility.
“We are optimising our fleet assets by converting older Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft to meet the growing demand for air cargo capacity to transport goods rapidly across the world,” Emirates SkyCargo’s Divisional Senior Vice President, Badr Abbas, commented.
“Combined with our growing fleet of Boeing 777-F production freighters, we have already been able to scale our global freighter network from just over 40 destinations in February this year to 62 destinations currently and growing.
“We are providing our global customers with scalable cargo capacity and ultimate flexibility and connectivity when moving cargo to and through our hub in Dubai,” Abbas added.
