Allen Onyema
Hundreds of passengers were left stranded at major Nigerian airports on Tuesday after aviation labour unions picketed and effectively shut down operations of Air Peace, the country’s largest domestic airline, in Lagos and Abuja.
The industrial action, which began in the early hours of the morning, was carried out by the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE).
The unions acted with the support of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
Union members barricaded entrances to Air Peace’s departure terminals at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos—specifically Terminal 1 (Alpha and Zulu halls) and Terminal 2—as well as the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport terminal in Abuja. The blockade prevented access to check-in counters and restricted the departure of scheduled flights from the two key hubs.
Air Peace confirmed that the action disrupted its flight operations across its domestic and regional network. In a statement, the airline said the barricades had “restricted access to these terminals, preventing the departure of scheduled flights from Lagos and Abuja.” Consequently, passengers travelling on routes connected through the two airports were significantly affected. Reports indicated that more than 70 Air Peace flights were cancelled or disrupted.
The airline apologised to affected travellers, describing the situation as “circumstances beyond the airline’s control.” It said passengers scheduled for later flights were being contacted with updates as the situation evolved.
The unions cited two main grievances. They accused domestic airlines, including Air Peace, of preventing workers from freely joining trade unions, creating an environment of fear of victimisation. They also alleged non-remittance of the statutory five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC)—and in some accounts Cargo Sales Charges—collected from passengers and owed to aviation agencies. The unions argued that the withheld funds have starved agencies and stalled the implementation of collective bargaining agreements for agency staff.
The action followed earlier warnings, including a notice of picketing issued around August 4, in which the unions stated they were prepared to strike at any time without further notice if their demands were not met.
United Nigeria Airlines subsequently suspended its own operations in protest against the disruption of Air Peace flights. Other carriers also reported temporary suspensions or rescheduling linked to the broader industrial action and access restrictions at the airports.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) appealed to the unions to suspend the action and return to dialogue. In a statement signed by Director-General Capt. Chris Najomo, the NCAA noted that a meeting convened by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, the previous week could not hold because airline operators failed to attend. The authority urged all parties to exercise restraint pending the minister’s further intervention.
Air Peace workers separately dissociated themselves from the picketing. A spokesman for the workers said employees of the airline had no need to join external unions, citing regular salaries, health coverage and existing channels of engagement with management over the airline’s 12 years of operation.
Passengers expressed frustration at the sudden disruption. Travellers who arrived early for morning flights, including a 6:30 a.m. departure from Lagos, found terminals blocked and received little immediate information on when operations might resume.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the situation remained fluid, with Air Peace and other affected airlines monitoring developments and promising to restore normal schedules once access was restored. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions in Nigeria’s aviation sector over labour rights, statutory remittances and operational stability.
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