Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, is currently holding a high-level closed-door meeting with aviation unions, the Permanent Secretary, and heads of aviation agencies in an effort to end the ongoing strike that has disrupted operations across the sector.
The emergency meeting, convened at the Minister’s instance, is taking place in Abuja and includes key representatives of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP). Among those in attendance are NUATE’s General Secretary, Comrade Ochema Abba, Deputy President Comrade Oluchi, ANAP President General Comrade Alale Adebayo, and Chairman Comrade Ambore Samson.
The strike, which has entered its second day, has crippled airport operations, disrupted flight schedules, and left thousands of passengers stranded at major airports including Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano.
At the opening of the meeting, Keyamo reaffirmed his commitment to resolving the crisis.
“We are taking this seriously. I’m here with all relevant agencies to listen, to act, and to find common ground. We will resolve this soon,” the Minister said.
Although the unions’ specific demands have not been officially disclosed, sources indicate that they include issues related to staff welfare, unpaid allowances, and the non-implementation of previous agreements with the government.
Industry stakeholders have urged for a prompt resolution to avoid further damage to domestic and international travel.
As of the time of filing this report, the meeting was still in progress.
