TUE AUG 11 2026-theGBJournal| Flight operations across Nigeria were severely disrupted Tuesday after aviation unions barricaded key airport terminals in Lagos and Abuja, grounding scheduled flights and leaving passengers stranded.
The industrial action by members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) has restricted access to departure terminals at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed Airport and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Air Peace, one of Nigeria’s largest airlines, said the picketing had blocked entrances to its terminals in Lagos, including Terminals 1 Alpha and Zulu and Terminal 2, as well as its Abuja terminal.
“The ongoing industrial action has resulted in the barricading of the entrances to our departure terminals,” the airline said in a statement.
The disruption prevented scheduled flights from departing Lagos and Abuja, with knock-on effects across the airline’s domestic network.
Air Peace apologised to passengers affected by the action, saying it was contacting travellers scheduled to fly later Tuesday with updates as the situation develops.
The airline said it was monitoring the situation and would provide further information, while urging passengers to remain patient.
United Nigeria Airlines as well as other regionl carriers in the country have echoed similar sentiments as Air Peace, and promised to keep their customers informed of updated flight schedules.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) also acknowledged the disruption and appealed to the unions to suspend their action pending the return of Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister Festus Keyamo, who it said had been working to resolve the dispute.
The regulator said a meeting convened by Keyamo last week to address the issues could not take place because airline operators failed to honour the invitation.
“The NCAA appeals to the unions to sheathe their swords and exercise restraint,” the authority said in a statement signed by its Director General, Capt. Chris Ona Najomo.
The regulator assured passengers that flight safety remained uncompromised, saying it continued to exercise its statutory safety oversight responsibilities.
It appealed to all parties to return to dialogue and cooperation, expressing confidence that the dispute would be resolved shortly and normal flight operations restored “as soon as practicable.”
For passengers caught in the disruption, however, the immediate impact was cancelled or delayed travel, with airlines warning that operations would remain subject to developments at the affected airports.
The NCAA expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to travellers and thanked passengers for their patience and understanding.
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