Passengers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja were left stranded and frustrated on Tuesday morning following an industrial action by aviation workers that disrupted flight operations.
The strike triggered chaotic scenes at the airport terminal as travellers struggled to obtain information about the status of their flights and when normal operations would resume.
Passengers were initially prevented from entering the terminal but were later allowed inside. Despite the reopening, uncertainty continued as many travellers remained unclear about whether their flights would operate or what arrangements had been made for those affected by the industrial action.
One of the affected passengers, Emeka “Silencer” Okoli, who was scheduled to travel to Enugu for the annual CIC Enugu Convention, described the situation as chaotic.
“Passengers were locked out of the terminal, and families travelling with children were left disappointed, among others,” Okoli said.
He said that although passengers were eventually allowed into the terminal, the situation remained disorderly, comparing the environment to a marketplace.
According to Okoli, travellers had yet to receive clear information about the aviation workers involved in the strike, how long the industrial action would last, or what measures had been put in place to assist affected passengers.
“Peace Transport Park is better than what we are currently facing at the airport. Passengers are suffocating from congestion. It’s either the ACs are not working or the crowd is simply too much for the ACs. This is so sad. Very terrible conditions,” he lamented.
The industrial action has left hundreds of passengers uncertain about their travel plans, with growing calls for aviation authorities, airlines and other stakeholders to urgently resolve the dispute and provide clear information and assistance to stranded travellers.
