Aviation unions petition Ribadu over alleged Air Peace taxiway blockade
Aviation trade unions have petitioned the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, over an alleged security breach at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, accusing Air Peace of deploying buses to block aircraft movement during an industrial dispute on August 11.
The unions described the alleged incident as “aviation terrorism” and called for a forensic investigation into how vehicles reportedly gained access to the airport’s restricted operational area, raising fresh concerns about aviation security, regulatory enforcement and the economic consequences of disruptions to air transport.
In the petition, signed by the General Secretary of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Frances Akinjole; General Secretary of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Igene P.J.A.; and Deputy General Secretary of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), Umoh Ofonime, the unions urged Ribadu to establish a joint security team to investigate the incident.
They also called for the preservation of CCTV recordings and airside operational logs, as well as the arrest and prosecution of anyone found to have authorised the alleged deployment of the vehicles.
The incident occurred during a picketing campaign by aviation unions against 16 domestic airlines over alleged restrictions on workers’ unionisation rights and the non-remittance of the statutory five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) to aviation agencies.
According to the unions, their protest at Air Peace’s operational area began peacefully before the situation escalated. They alleged that five branded buses were subsequently driven onto the airport’s taxiway and aircraft manoeuvring area, disrupting operations and creating a potential danger to passengers, crew and airport personnel.
The unions argued that any unauthorised obstruction of operational areas at an international airport raises serious questions about compliance with aviation security protocols and the protection of critical national infrastructure.
The dispute had already disrupted operations at Lagos and Abuja airports, leaving passengers stranded and affecting scheduled flights. Air Peace subsequently called for a government investigation into the industrial action, alleging that it suffered financial losses exceeding N2 billion and that some of its employees were assaulted during the protest.
The airline also disputed the allegation that its bus blocked the runway, challenging reports surrounding the vehicle’s location. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), however, said it would investigate the reported obstruction of the airport’s airside, while police confirmed that buses connected to the incident were taken into custody as investigations commenced.
The unions’ latest petition seeks to elevate the matter from an industrial dispute to a national security investigation, invoking the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the Civil Aviation Act 2022.
They maintained that the investigation should establish the circumstances surrounding the incident, identify those responsible and determine whether any aviation safety or security regulations were breached.
The dispute has implications beyond the parties involved. Disruptions at Nigeria’s busiest airport can affect airline revenues, passenger confidence, connecting flights and the wider aviation value chain, including ground handling, airport services and travel businesses.
The unions said their demands for an investigation were intended to protect aviation infrastructure and prevent a recurrence of incidents capable of compromising airport operations.
The competing allegations now leave the authorities with the responsibility of establishing what happened, determining accountability and ensuring that future labour disputes do not threaten the safety and orderly operation of Nigeria’s airports.
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