Passengers across major airports in Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Abuja found themselves stranded as the nationwide strike declared by labour unions brought airport activities to a standstill.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) initiated the industrial action in protest against the lack of consensus on the new minimum wage and the recent hike in electricity tariffs.
At the Port Harcourt Airport, workers belonging to the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) obstructed vehicular access to the area, compelling passengers to disembark and trek into the airport premises.
Despite the disruption, flights remained operational, albeit with a heightened security presence.
Emmanuel Akagha, Chairman of the Rivers State chapter of the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals, clarified that passengers were permitted into the airport due to the road connecting to nearby communities.
However, he emphasized that check-in and boarding procedures were suspended.
In Lagos State, scenes of stranded passengers unfolded at the Murtala Mohammed Airport II, where the entrance gate was locked by aviation unions, preventing both staff and passengers from accessing the terminal.
Similarly, at the Abuja Airport, only a handful of passengers were spotted at one of the terminal entrances, met with locked doors and an empty terminal devoid of staff or airline personnel.
The strike action has disrupted normal airport operations, leaving passengers in limbo and underscoring the impact of the labour unrest on critical sectors of the economy.