A labor union walkout has left thousands of travelers stranded at airports around the country. The NLC or TUC is affiliated with several aviation unions, which have joined the strike: the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP), and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE).
On Sunday, union members were directed to stop services at airports starting midnight Monday.
Early Monday at 6:00 am, union members blocked all entrances to Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) in Lagos, stopping passengers from reaching their flights.
This has caused flight delays and cancellations across the country.
As of the time of reporting, no aircraft had departed either the MMA2 private terminal or the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) at the nearby airport.
A source stated, “No flight has taken off. Hundreds of passengers are stranded as the unions blocked all access points to the airport.”
Reports confirm that even the one-boarded flight was not cleared for takeoff.
A passenger shared that he arrived on time for his 6:30 a.m. flight but remained at the airport.
The situation is similar at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, where passengers are blocked from entering the terminals.
The terminal halls are empty, as shown in pictures and videos sent to our correspondent.
There is a ray of optimism for a resolution in the middle of the mayhem and uncertainty. Finding common ground and ending the impasse will require neutral mediators to encourage dialogue between the administration and the unions. Both sides need to show that they are prepared to make concessions and put the interests of the passengers first. Passengers stuck at airports throughout Nigeria are waiting tensely for any indications of movement while negotiations take place behind closed doors. In addition to providing comfort to tired passengers, the strike’s resolution will show how resilient and determined the Nigerian people are to face hardship head-on and pave the way for a better future.
