Workers of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) have called off their strike following the intervention of the Federal Government, bringing an end to a two-day industrial action that disrupted flight operations across the country.
The strike, which grounded scheduled local flights and left passengers stranded at major airports including Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, was supported by several aviation unions. These included the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals, and the National Union of Air Transport Employees.
During the strike, Air Peace one of Nigeria’s leading airlines suspended all flights nationwide over safety concerns. The airline’s CEO, Allen Onyema, issued a directive on Wednesday halting operations until NiMET resumed its services.
“If NiMET has not called off the strike, cancel every Air Peace flight now with immediate effect. People’s lives and the safety of our equipment and our crew are foremost,” Onyema said.
He emphasized the risks of flying without accurate weather reports, citing heavy thunderstorms and unstable weather conditions. “Suspend all flights with immediate effect, until further notice, until that strike is over. Safety first,” he added.
NiMET plays a crucial role in providing weather updates and forecasts essential for flight planning and aviation safety. With the strike now called off, flight operations are expected to gradually resume across affected airports.
