In light of ongoing nationwide hunger protests, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has reassured passengers of their safety at airports and the continuity of smooth airline operations.
Conversely, train services were temporarily halted on Thursday as a precautionary measure to safeguard train stations, particularly along the Abuja-Kaduna route.
Michael Achimugu, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, emphasized the presence of sufficient security measures at airports while addressing the situation at these facilities.
Speaking about the airport security, Achimugu stated, “Security is adequate at the airport. I am currently at the airport, conducting assessments with my team. We have covered the domestic area and are now heading to the international section. Everything is proceeding smoothly.”
He further highlighted that “security measures are stringent. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria Aviation Security and NCAA, along with other security agencies, had made thorough preparations and arrangements beforehand. Therefore, we guarantee passengers security as long as the airlines are operating.”
Despite this, Achimugu mentioned that two domestic airlines, Overland and Valuejet, had announced the suspension of their operations for the day.
Elaborating on this, he explained, “A couple of domestic airlines have informed their passengers about the cessation of services today. Overland and Valuejet are not operating. However, all other flights are on schedule, and the situation is under control.”
The rationale behind the decision of these airlines to suspend operations remains uncertain but is speculated to be linked to the protest or other factors.
On the other hand, train services have experienced more substantial interruptions. Abdul Azeez, the Operations Manager at Idu Train Station, confirmed the suspension of train operations due to security concerns.
Azeez emphasized the unpredictable nature of the situation, stating, “To the best of my knowledge, we are not running services today. Security personnel are present, but the uncertainty prevails.” This suspension impacts not just the Nigerian Railway Corporation but also metro services, showcasing the broad repercussions of the ongoing unrest.
Passengers of various airlines were observed flocking to the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos early to preempt any potential violence arising from the protests.
Individuals with flights scheduled for later parts of the day arrived at the airport terminal well in advance.
Despite the seemingly deserted airport environment with vehicles moving slowly, terminals at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Murtala Muhammed Airport 2, and General Aviation Terminal were bustling with passengers quietly awaiting their flights.
Reports indicated that airlines operated their flights, albeit some had to cancel due to various reasons such as weather conditions and protest impacts.
For instance, Air Peace canceled flights to Kano and Ibadan, while Value Jet delayed a domestic route flight. Air Peace also delayed its Benin flight due to weather concerns.
Several passengers in different terminals were spotted dozing off after arriving before 6:00 am on Thursday.
A couple found sleeping at Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 shared their reasons, with Obiora Kenneth explaining, “We departed Edo State past 4:00 am today in a chartered vehicle to avoid potential crisis from the protest. Our flight is later in the evening, but arriving early was crucial to avoid missing our flight amidst the protest.”