Airlines cancel flights as Lagos imposes curfew over #EndSARS protests

Domestic and international airlines have been forced to cancel their Lagos bound flights following the 24-hour curfew imposed by the Lagos State Government with effect from 4pm on Tuesday.

BusinessDay’s checks show that although the airspace is not shut down to essential flights airlines have had to cancel flights and reschedule.

BusinessDay’s checks show that Air Peace, Arik Air, Azman, and Ibom Air have all cancelled flights.

While international airlines such as Africa world airlines and Delta Airlines have also cancelled.

Arik Air cancelled all its flight operations for Wednesday, October 21, 2020, due to the 24 hours curfew.

Adebanji Ola, public relations and communications manager, Arik Air explained that all booked passengers on the cancelled flights are advised to reschedule their flights for later dates at no extra cost.

Azman Air through its Twitter handle @AzmanAir stated, “This is to inform all our Lagos bound passengers that all flights are hereby cancelled till further notice”

A Delta Airlines Flight DL 54 from Atlanta, United States, heading to Lagos on Tuesday was forced to return to America following the ongoing #EndSARS protests in Nigeria.

The aircraft first terminated its journey in Dakar, Senegal, before making its return to the JFK Airport in New York with the entire crew and passengers on board.

A source close to the airline told BusinessDay that following the 24-hour curfew imposed by the Lagos State Government with effect from 4pm of on Tuesday, Delta flights in and out of Lagos on Wednesday will be cancelled.

Obi Mbanuzuo, accountable manager, Dana Air stated that the governor made an announcement but the airline is currently trying to get clarification but none is forthcoming.

Mbanuzuo noted that although other states are open, most domestic airlines are based in Lagos and if the airline can’t operate, then most domestic services in the country are grounded

He stated that airlines can probably base some aircraft and crews outside Lagos to perform flights in modified schedules to those states still open, adding that airlines need to know Lagos state Government’s plans.

“I have flights landing in Lagos tonight after curfew. We are urgently trying to work out a safe passage for the crews tonight,” he added.

For the past two weeks, thousands of Nigerian youths have been on the streets demanding an end to police brutality, disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigerian Police, and comprehensive police reforms.

The protests have paralysed activities and disrupted traffic on major roads in many cities. In places where vehicular movements are not disrupted, residents battle with gridlock, especially in Lagos, Nigeria’s economic capital, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria’s seat of power.

Nigerians had long launched a campaign online with the #EndSARS hashtag. The campaign trended across the world two weeks ago after celebrities volunteered to lead the protests against harassment and incessant killing of citizens by SARS.