Nigerian aviation workers began a two‑day warning strike on Monday with a protest that blocked the road leading to Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, leaving many air passengers stranded. The strike follows a meeting called by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority that ended in a stalemate on Sunday. The meeting, chaired by Director‑General of Civil Aviation Capt. Musa Nuhu, aimed to persuade the unions to shelve their planned strike and was attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, Dr. Emmanuel Meribole, as well as union representatives.
The unions involved—the National Union of Air Transport Employees, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, and the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals—are demanding, among other things, that the planned demolition of aviation agencies’ headquarters in Lagos be halted. They are also urging the implementation of the conditions of service that were signed with staff of the aviation agencies. In a brief interview after the meeting, ATSSSAN Deputy General Secretary Frances Akinjole said, “As I am talking to you, nothing has changed. If you don’t hear anything from the General Secretary, the strike continues.”
A source at the airport told reporters that the protest was not affecting operations because the workers “just blocked the airport road.” However, video footage on Twitter showed traffic congestion around the airport on Monday morning. A tweet from @eonsintelligenc, accompanied by pictures, stated, “Aviation workers union has commenced a nationwide protest over the non‑implementation of the new condition of service. Roads leading to the airports have been barricaded.”
Operators of Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two, Bi‑Courtney Aviation Services Limited, issued a warning on Twitter that the strike could cause flight delays and disruptions. “Due to the ongoing aviation union strike action, there may be flight delays and disruptions. MMA2 continues to operate on a best‑effort basis. Kindly check your map for traffic information and check with your airline for your flight status,” the tweet read. The company had earlier said it was closely monitoring the situation and would keep customers and terminal users informed of any changes to flight schedules.
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