The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has appealed to aviation unions to suspend their ongoing industrial action and return to the negotiating table as the dispute continues to disrupt flight operations across major airports in Nigeria.
The appeal came after the strike led to blocked airport entrances, cancelled or delayed flights and stranded passengers in different parts of the country.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by the Director-General of the NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, the aviation regulator called on the unions to exercise restraint and give dialogue another chance.
Najomo urged the unions to “sheathe their swords” while waiting for the return of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo. According to the NCAA, the minister has been actively involved in efforts to resolve the disagreement between the unions and other stakeholders in the aviation industry.
The regulator said the issues could have been discussed during a meeting organised by the minister the previous week. However, the meeting could not take place because airline operators did not attend the invitation.
The development has created significant difficulties for travellers, particularly at busy airports in Lagos and Abuja.
Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) were involved in the industrial action. The unions barricaded entrances to some major airport terminals, restricting access and affecting scheduled flight operations.
Air Peace, one of Nigeria’s major airlines, confirmed that its operations had been affected by the action.
The airline said access to its departure terminals at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, including Terminal 1’s Alpha and Zulu terminals and Terminal 2, had been restricted.
Operations at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja were also affected.
According to Air Peace, the restrictions prevented several scheduled flights from leaving Lagos and Abuja, leaving passengers across its network facing delays and disruptions.
The airline apologised to affected travellers and said the situation was beyond its control. It added that passengers scheduled to fly later in the day were being contacted and provided with updates.
Air Peace also said it was monitoring the situation closely and would continue to communicate with customers as developments emerged.
Despite the disruption, the NCAA stressed that aviation safety had not been compromised. The authority said it remained committed to carrying out its statutory safety oversight responsibilities.
The regulator appealed to all parties involved in the dispute to choose dialogue and cooperation instead of prolonged confrontation.
The NCAA expressed optimism that discussions would help resolve the disagreement and allow normal flight operations to resume as quickly as possible.
For travellers, however, the immediate concern remains the uncertainty surrounding their journeys. With airports serving as critical links for business, tourism and personal travel, prolonged disruptions could create wider economic consequences for airlines, passengers and businesses.
The NCAA said it regretted the inconvenience caused by the industrial action and thanked passengers for their patience and understanding.
