The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is urgently working with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to avert a looming strike by aviation workers.
The strike, which was sparked by ongoing conflicts between FAAN and Customs officers at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, could potentially begin this Friday.
John Ogbe, the branch chairman of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) at FAAN, revealed in an exclusive interview that FAAN’s Managing Director, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, has engaged with both the Controller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and the office of the National Security Adviser in an attempt to resolve the issue.
Ogbe commented, “The strike would have started but for an appeal from the MD of FAAN, who told us that she had opened the discussion with the Controller General of Customs over the matter.”
The dispute erupted after Customs officers allegedly attacked Igbafe Afegbai, the Director of Aviation Security Services, at the airport. In response, three unions—ATSSSAN, the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), and the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP)—issued a 14-day ultimatum demanding the redeployment of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Customs Controller and all officers involved in the incident.
Ogbe added, “We gave one week again, but this time, we won’t be going back to them before our action.”
The unions have warned that should their demands not be met, the strike will proceed, with a final deadline of Friday. Aviation workers are bracing for the impact of the industrial action, which could disrupt airport operations nationwide.