“It Was Water, Not Alcohol” — Kwam 1 Breaks Silence on Abuja Airport Incident

Legendary Fuji musician King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM 1 or K1 De Ultimate, has finally responded to the controversy surrounding his alleged breach of aviation protocol at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, insisting that he was carrying water, not alcohol.

This follows a statement released by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Monday, claiming that the 68-year-old singer attempted to board a ValueJet Airlines flight to Lagos with an unidentified liquid substance, despite warnings from aviation security (AVSEC) officers and the aircraft’s captain. FAAN further alleged that in the process of verification, the substance—which they believed to be alcohol—was spilled on airport personnel, prompting a security alert and causing disruption.

To add to the controversy, two ValueJet pilots were reportedly suspended, as reported by TheCable, for failing to uphold standard boarding protocol during the incident, which FAAN said could have compromised safety.

But in a statement issued by his media aide Kunle Rasheed, the Fuji icon dismissed the allegations as "exaggerated and misleading", claiming the liquid in question was “just plain drinking water” served to him in a flask at the lounge while waiting to board.

Kwam 1 insisted that he complied with all boarding protocols and tried to peacefully clarify the situation when questioned. According to him, it was the airport personnel who unnecessarily escalated the matter.

> “I did not breach any boarding rule, and I certainly did not carry alcohol. The flask contained only water I was given at the airport lounge. I cooperated fully and expected the matter to be resolved without drama,” the statement read.

The incident has stirred nationwide debate about celebrity conduct in public spaces and aviation security enforcement in Nigeria. Many have also pointed out that the situation raises serious concerns about procedural enforcement and communication breakdown at Nigerian airports—especially as FAAN currently manages 21 airports nationwide amid ongoing efforts to bolster aviation security.

As reactions continue to pour in on social media, with hashtags like #Kwam1AirportSaga and #FAANSecurity trending on X (formerly Twitter), questions remain about whether FAAN will issue further clarification or whether K1 might seek legal redress for defamation.

For now, the music legend is standing his ground: it was water—not whiskey.