Aviation workers threaten strike over customs officers’ assault

Aviation unions have threatened to withdraw their services from March 31, 2025 over failure to remove Customs Area Comptroller and others officers involved in a recent assault on Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Director of Aviation Security at Lagos airport.

The, workers, who are also protesting lack of work protocols that are in tandem with global best practices, have however, given FAAN a seven-day ultimatum to address the matter or face complete shutdown of airport operations across the country.

The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), and the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), in a statement jointly signed by Ocheme Aba for NUATE, Comrade Frances Akinjole for ATSSSAN and Abdul Rasaq Saidu for ANAP and addressed to FAAN, warned of impending consequence if the matter is not addressed within the next one week, saying “consequential sanctions are in place which guarantees the safety and human rights of FAAN staff, we shall direct all the workers to withdraw from the airports with effect from 31st March, 2025 pending when such protocols are established.

“The recent assault on no less a personality as the Director of Aviation security of FAAN is one too many which leaves a taste too bitter to swallow.

“It is our sincere hope that our demand in the above respect is well met to avoid the industrial conflagration that will ensue in the absence acceptable remedial actions”

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Recall that they had earlier given the management a 21-day ultimatum which expired in Monday.

They had demanded the removal of the Customs officers involved in the assault on FAAN’s Director of Aviation Security, at Lagos airport.

The unions said all branches and state councils throughout Nigeria have been directed to commence mobilisation of all staff in the above respect.

“Considering the enormity and frequency of physical and psychological assault on the staff and management personnel of FAAN of which there is no end in sight, we are compelled to inform the management of the unwavering determination of our Unions to cause the establishment of a clear framework of mutual respect among FAAN staff and the security agencies operating at the airports”.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.