Travellers were on Monday left stranded at the Lagos Airport following the two-day warning strike by aviation unions to press their demand for implementation of their conditions of service, the plans to demolish agencies offices to establish an airport city and other demands.
Though some carriers operated flights in the early hours into Abuja, attempt by others were scuttled as aviation union members took over the airport barricading entry and exit points of the annex headquarters of the aviation agencies with their vehicles.
Though some carriers operated flights in the early hours into Abuja, attempt by others were scuttled as aviation union members took over the airport barricading entry and exit points of the annex headquarters of the aviation agencies with their vehicles.
The unions are demanding the immediate release of the reviewed Condition of Service (CoS) as negotiated between them and four aviation agencies for over seven years, implementation of the minimum wage consequential adjustments and arrears for the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) since 2019 and halt to the planned demolition exercise of all the agency buildings in Lagos by the Minister of Aviation for an airport city project called aerotropolis.
Motorcyclists are making brisk businesses as they convey passengers most of whom are visibly confused after their plans have been disrupted.
Our correspondent observed an unusual vehicular traffic on the roads leading to Ikeja under bridge, Agege motor road, Oshodi. Also all the roads leading to and from the domestic wing of the airport including the access toll gate into the airport are blocked as the unions gathered to address the workers at the roundabout at the domestic wing of the airport.
Security agents, the Police, Air Force, Army, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the state security service like Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) are all on ground to maintain law and order. As of the time of filing this report, passengers have been very calm despite the disappointment.
The unions have vowed to ground tools until zero hours of Monday, April 17th and continue on Tuesday, April 18th.
Some travellers were seen rushing through the crowd with their bags to catch up with flights that may not operate. This is made worse as airline operators who spoke with the media promised to convey passengers as aircraft were on ground but that passengers were delayed due to gridlock caused by the warning strike
