Aviation
By Anthony Isibor
PASSENGERS travelling through different Nigerian airports were stranded on Tuesday, August 11, as flights were cancelled or rescheduled.
The disruption was linked to the industrial action by aviation labour unions under the umbrella of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) at the Abuja and Lagos airports.
Mostly affected were travellers on Air Peace airline, which cancelled all four flights from Asaba airport, causing untold inconvenience to people especially those who arrived the airport to board early morning flights. The cancellation was announced by 11:40 pm at the Asaba airport after the initial shifting of the scheduled time for the flight.
Those travelling with United Airlines also suffered untold inconvenience due to rescheduling of 12:15pm flight to 6.40pm without any message sent to the affected people who had to wait for more than 9 hours to board the flight.
Dejected, a female passenger who is a lawyer on Air Peace flight to Abuja, expressed frustration after her scheduled morning flight from Asaba to Abuja was shifted to 12noon before it was cancelled outrightly without any future date given for the flight..
Similarly, one of the affected passengers on United Nigeria, who arrived the airport at 9:15am with four children to board the 12:15pm flight spoke to Realnews and lamented the airline’s gross incompetence as passengers were not notified about the change in schedule ahead of time.
At the United Nigeria counter, two passengers complained that they did not receive any message although the airline staff mealy mouthily said that bulk messages were sent out to alert passengers and tendered half hearted apologies.
Realnews reporter at the Asaba airport observed that many passengers were left standing for several hours as there were insufficient seats at the check-in lounge while airline staff sat idling away at the check-in counters.
One of the travellers complained that there were no toilet facilities at the check-in lounge of the Asaba airport and that passengers were directed to go to use the facility at the Arrival Hall which was flooded and unclean.
Realnews also observed the untidy state of the airport as rickety plastic chairs were seen at the entrance of the airport where the security post is located.
A.I
Aug. 11, 2026
Tags: NLC TUC