LAGOS — The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has ordered the arrest and prosecution of an Air Peace driver accused of blocking the runway at Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, during a picketing exercise by aviation unions on Tuesday .
CDA News Nigeria gathered that the incident occurred while the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) were picketing Air Peace operations over alleged non-remittance of statutory charges and workers’ unionisation rights .
A source at the airport explained that the driver drove a large bus onto the airside and abandoned it there in protest during the picketing. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had to tow the vehicle away to restore free movement within the airside .
CDA News Nigeria reports that the NCAA spokesperson, Michael Achimugu, confirmed the development and described the act as unacceptable. “We have ordered that the driver in question be identified and arrested for onward prosecution. How can somebody block the runway? That is seriously uncalled for. We’ll investigate, and the necessary portions of the act will be invoked,” he said .
However, Air Peace spokesperson, Efe Whiskey-Osifo, dismissed the allegation, insisting that the vehicle did not block the runway. “Show me your pictures. Do you know the runway better than I do? The bus did not block the runway. Do you know what a runway is?” she queried .
The picketing disrupted flight operations at Lagos and Abuja airports, leaving many passengers stranded. The NCAA has also appealed to the unions to suspend the industrial action and embrace dialogue to resolve the dispute .
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