Passengers stranded as aviation unions cripple operations at Lagos Airport

Passengers at the Lagos Airport as passengers remain stranded 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 sundry demands.

Though some carriers operated flights in the early hours into Abuja, attempts 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.

Workers of the agencies who arrived for work could not gain entry into their various offices, including owners of businesses and staff within the airport with all of them hanging around the premises.

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.

READ ALSO: FAAN advises travelers to make contingency plans as unions begin strike

Flight operations have been grounded as passengers cannot gain access into the terminals and there is heavy vehicular traffic around the airport environment.

Motorcyclists are making brisk business of conveying passengers into the terminals while some are stock in their cars and others alighting from their vehicles, carrying their luggage and walking down to the terminals.

All roads leading into the airport from Ikeja under bridge, Agege motor road, Oshodi and the access toll gate into the airport were 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 and the state security service are all on ground to ensure law and order.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Agency, LASTMA and the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC are also present to ensure sanity.

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The unions have vowed to remain here till zero hours and continue tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the effect of the shutdown is seen in Lagos with the massive gridlock building around Ikeja and its environs as the unions blocked the access gates cutting off vehicular movement.

Travellers are seen carrying bags to meet up with flights that may not service them and again, the airlines would once again bear the brunt of the force.