The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has appealed to striking aviation unions to suspend their industrial action, reassuring the traveling public that strict safety oversight remains intact across the nation’s airports.
The appeal comes amid ongoing disruptions to flight schedules, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded across key airports nationwide, including Lagos and Abuja.
Aviation unions supported by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), on Tuesday, August 11, shut down the operations of Air Peace at both the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The action was jointly taken by major aviation unions, including the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE).
The unions had jointly issued a statement on August 4, 2026, and warned about an impending strike if lingering issues with domestic airlines under the umbrella of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) were not addressed.
According to the statement jointly signed by ATSSSAN, NUATE, and NAAPE, the unions accused domestic operators, including Air Peace, of preventing staff members from joining labour unions of their choice, making them vulnerable to victimization and unable to exercise their rights to freedom of association.
The aviation unions equally accused domestic airline operators of withholding statutory five percent Ticket Sales Charges (TSC) and Cargo Sales Charges (CSC) collected directly from passengers.
The unions argue that non-remittance of these funds affects the operations of civil aviation agencies, especially in executing negotiated Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) for agency staff and creating resentful workplace conditions that risk flight safety.
In a follow-up to their warnings, the aviation unions mounted blockades, disrupting operations of Air Peace in Lagos and Abuja airports.
Confirming the development, Air Peace, in a statement issued by its management on Tuesday morning, said the industrial action has led to temporary disruptions to its flight operations.
“We wish to inform our esteemed passengers and the general flying public of temporary disruptions to our flight operations arising from the picketing of our airline and the ongoing industrial action by members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), and the Trade Union Congress (TUC),” Air Peace stated.
“The ongoing industrial action has resulted in the barricading of the entrances to our departure terminals at Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 (Alpha and Zulu Terminals) and Terminal 2 in Lagos, as well as the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Terminal in Abuja.”
The airline lamented that the blockade has restricted access to these terminals, preventing scheduled flights from departing from Lagos and Abuja.
It said the disruption to flight operations has significantly affected passengers scheduled to travel across its network. It apologized to all affected passengers for the disruption and inconvenience caused by what it described as “circumstances beyond the airline’s control.”
On its part, the NCCA acknowledged the significant impact the strike is having on the traveling public and aviation stakeholders.
In a statement signed by the Director General, Captain Chris Ona Najomo, the agency appealed for patience and calm, urging union leaders to “sheathe their swords” while waiting for the return of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN).
According to the NCAA, the Minister has been actively engaged in efforts to resolve the underlying grievances that triggered the labour unrest.
Capt. Najomo revealed that a critical meeting intended to address the issues was convened by the Minister last week but could not be held due to the failure of airline operators to honour the invitation.
Despite the paralysis on the ground, the NCAA reassured the public regarding safety standards.
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Capt. Najomo emphasised that flight safety remains “uncompromised” and that the Authority is continuing to exercise its statutory safety oversight responsibilities even amidst the chaos.
“We appeal to all parties to embrace dialogue and cooperation,” part of the NCAA statement read.
“We are confident that the matter will be resolved shortly and normal flight operations will resume as soon as practicable.”
The NCAA concluded by expressing regret for the “inconvenience caused to passengers” and thanked the public for their patience and understanding during this turbulent period.
As of press time, union leaders had not yet responded to the NCAA’s appeal. Passengers were advised to check with their respective airlines for updates before heading to the airports.
Victor Ezeja is a Nigerian journalist skilled in producing insightful news analyses, feature stories, and interviews that simplify complex issues and drive informed public discourse. His work combines rigorous research, balanced reporting, and compelling storytelling to highlight developments shaping industries and society. Victor, who holds a Master's Degree in Mass Communication, specializes in energy, aviation, business, and economic reporting. He can be reached via @VICTOREZEJA on X