Flight operations at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, have been disrupted on Friday, February 6, after aviation workers embarked on an industrial action, protesting against the Federal Government’s concessioning of the airport.
According to reports, the protest follows a growing dissatisfaction over the handling of the concession process and its implications for workers’ welfare. The aggrieved 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 fate of existing staff.
“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.”a source told Sahara Reporters
According to the source, aviation unions have made repeated attempts to engage the alleged concessionaires and government officials, but those efforts have yielded 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,” the source added.
So, this morning, the workers received a directive from the national offices of the aviation unions to shut down flight operations. That’s exactly what is happening.”
As a result of the protest, passengers were forced out of the terminal building and left stranded, while all flight operations at the airport were suspended.
Videos shared online shows angry passengers milling around the airport premises, some expressing frustration over the sudden shutdown and lack of information from authorities.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the aviation unions are yet to comment on this development.
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