Workers disrupt activities at Lagos airport

Shola Adekola, Lagos - 13.03.2008

TRAFFIC and other activities were disrupted on Wednesday at the local wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, following a protest by workers of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) against the planned concession of four major airports in the country.

The workers, numbering about 300, trooped out of the FAAN headquarters at about 11:00 a.m. and went round the wing chanting in condemnation of the planned concession of the airports.

The workers, who were led by their unions consisting of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and Air Transport Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSAN), cautioned government against the concession, saying such moves would only cripple the economic activities of FAAN.

The airport police were called in to avoid any breakdown of law and order by the aggrieved workers who also said the concession would throw the workers out of their jobs.

The unions also advised the Federal Government against the concession on the premise that the nation had not grown to the level where airports would be left in the hands of individuals as it affected security.

They vowed to frustrate any move to sell or concession any of the viable airports in the country.

The workers said they would continue with similar protests every Wednesday until the government changed its plans.

Trouble started two weeks ago when the Federal Government announced, through the Minister of State for Air Transport, Mr. Felix Hyatt, its plan to concession Lagos Airport, Malam Aminu Kano Airport, Kano; Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja; and Port Harcourt International Airport.