In response to the refusal to remove a customs officer who reportedly attacked the director of aviation security of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), aviation unions have threatened to ground Nigerian airports starting on March 31.
Ocheme Aba, Frances Akinjole, and Abdul Rasaq Saidu, the leaders of the three unions—the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), and the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP)—signed a statement on Monday alerting the public to this threat.
The unions said that the frequent physical assaults on FAAN employees would no longer be tolerated.
It urged the government to swiftly cut back on the number of customs officials working in civil aircraft, as is the case globally.
“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 airport.
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“Consequential sanctions are in place that guarantee the safety and human rights of FAAN staff. We shall direct all the workers to withdraw from the airports with effect from March 31, 2025, pending when such protocols are established,” the statement reads in part.
In a recent statement on the subject, the spokesperson for Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada, attributed the altercation between FAAN and NCS officials to a misunderstanding about the movement of equipment and seating arrangements.
