Nigerian Airport Passengers Fear Flight Disruption as Weather Agency Workers Threaten Strike

Passengers at Nigeria’s two busiest airports, Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, have voiced concerns as workers of the Nigeria Meteorology Agency (NiMet) have vowed to begin a nationwide indefinite strike from midnight on Tuesday.

Operators and experts in the aviation sector warn that the planned industrial action could lead to significant flight disruptions across the country if it continues.

While some travellers expressed confusion about the precise timing of the strike, many are already anxious about boarding aircraft.

In a letter seen by local media, the Union of Air Transport Employees, the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals, and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical, and Recreational Services Employees accused NiMet management of repeatedly failing to honour agreements aimed at resolving long-standing issues related to workers’ remuneration.

The unions stated in their letter that they had “strived strenuously over the past few years to alleviate the exceedingly unjust remunerations conundrum that has visited extreme poverty and consequent untold hardship on NiMet workers,” but that these efforts had largely yielded “no substantial results.”

They also expressed frustration over the management’s failure to implement a partial agreement reached on January 28th, 2025, saying it had been “honoured largely only in the breach.”

Crucially, all flight operations in Nigeria require clearance from NiMet regarding favourable weather conditions before take-off. This means that a prolonged strike by NiMet workers could ground flights nationwide.

Passengers at Lagos airport on Tuesday spoke of their fears, with some believing that workers may have already left their posts. One traveller, Adedire Airin, told reporters of her anxiety and called on the government to prevent any accidents.

Another traveller in Lagos, Aderinsola, expressed uncertainty about when the strike would commence and prayed for a safe journey.

In Abuja, a passenger named John Thompson said he had been informed that the strike would begin at midnight on Tuesday and appealed to the unions to reconsider and engage in further dialogue with the authorities.

The potential strike by NiMet workers raises concerns about significant travel disruption in Nigeria, particularly affecting operations at its two major international airports in Lagos and Abuja.