Flight operations at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, were disrupted on Friday, February 6, after aviation workers embarked on an industrial action to protest the Federal Government’s concessioning of the facility.
Passengers were forced out of the terminal building and left stranded as all flights were suspended, with videos shared online showing crowds of frustrated travelers demanding answers.
According to reports, the protest stems from dissatisfaction over the handling of the concession process and its implications for staff welfare.
Workers alleged that the airport had been concessioned to a South-East governor and a prominent businessman from Anambra State without any clear guarantees about the future of existing employees.
“The airport has been concessioned without taking into consideration the welfare of the workers. All we know is that they said full concessioning will come into effect in two years’ time, but nothing was said about the future of the workers when the new owners take over,” one of the protesters complained to journalists.
Aviation Unions Step In
Sources said aviation unions had made repeated attempts to engage the alleged concessionaires and government officials but received no concrete commitments.
“Aviation unions have made several efforts to engage them, including one of the South-East governors and a popular billionaire investor from Anambra State, but they are not forthcoming on their plans for the workers,” another source explained.
On Friday morning, workers reportedly received a directive from the national offices of aviation unions to shut down flight operations, leading to the suspension of all services at the airport.
The sudden shutdown left passengers stranded, with many expressing anger over the lack of communication from authorities. Videos circulating online showed travelers milling around the airport premises, some demanding refunds and others voicing frustration at missing scheduled flights.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and aviation unions have yet to issue an official statement on the disruption.
Rate, Like 👍, Comment 💬, Share this article, Follow us on our social media handles, and Submit your own story to get featured and earn rewards!
WhatsApp Channel
Telegram Channel
