Aviation
Union dares NEMA, says airspace will be shut down
LAGOS – Workers of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) under aviation unions on Sunday insisted that there was no going back on their planned protest slated for Monday, May 20.
The unions said that the planned shutting down of the nation’s airspace was to press home their demand for the implementation of the approved salary scale endorsed by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.
The union’s position is contained in a joint press statement signed by the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association (ATSSSAN) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineer (NAAPE).
It was signed by Messrs Olayinka Abioye, Abdulkareem Motajo and Aba Ocheme on behalf of the three unions and released to aviation correspondents at the end of an emergency meeting of the workers on Sunday in Lagos.
They urged the public to discountenance the earlier statement from Mr Supo Atobatele, the General Manager, Public Affairs of NAMA, whom they said was speaking for himself.
According to the unions, the meeting convened by the management of NAMA last Friday did not address the issue on ground to the satisfaction of the union’s agitations.
Atobatele had on Friday last week issued a statement saying the planned industrial action slated for Monday had been put on hold following a successful meeting between the union and management.
The statement quoted Atobatele as saying that the Friday meeting was expected to continue on Monday to further deliberate on issues at stake after the parties agreed that dialogue was the best way of resolving industrial crisis.
The unions said that Atobatele did not have the right to cancel an ultimatum issued by the unions to the effect that the planned industrial action in NAMA had been shelved arising from the so called successful meeting held by the parties.
Part of the statement from the unions after Sunday’s emergency meeting reads “for the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state categorically that the ultimatum issued against NAMA shall expire on May 19, 2013 and appropriate actions shall commence thereafter.
“In view of the reactionary misleading press statement of NAMA management through Supo Atobatele, who in the first instance is not the author of the ultimatum, we wish to reassure our members that no retreat, no surrender, and until all grievances are sorted out, there is no going back on our cause of action.”
The unions said all workers had been put on standby for the implementation of the action.
They added that they learnt that there would be a high level delegation on Monday at the Federal Ministry of Aviation, Abuja over the issue.
However, the management of NAMA had on Sunday reacted to the unions’ strike threat, saying there would be flight operations and that the nation’s airspace would remain open to traffic on Monday.
Mr Supo Atobatele, the NAMA General Manager, Public Affairs, said this in a statement he issued to counter the one by the aviation unions.
Atobatele assured all that the airspace would remain open “in spite of the unwarranted threat from some trade union leaders who have vowed in their cocoons to endanger safety and security within the nation’s airspace.”
The NAMA boss who quoted Mr Nnamdi Udoh, the agency’s Managing Diretor as giving the assurance, also assured foreign airlines and urged them to continue to file in their normal flight plans without exercising any fear.
Udoh was also quoted in the statement as wondering why the workers’ representatives had agreed at the Friday meeting to continue deliberations on Monday should change their minds only to want to opt for strike.
Shortly after receiving approval from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, the agency embarked on the process of implementation by setting up an advisory committee, the statement said.
The committee included the management staff, accounts staff and representatives from the trade unions.
Udoh was quoted as saying that NAMA management commenced full payment of the new consolidated salary structure as approved and promised to pay 13 months arrears thereafter based on the reports of the committee.
“It may interest the public that an average top official of the agency earns additional N100,000 to his or her salary following the implementation of the new salary structure and the condition of service which makes it far above the approved structure from the wages commission,” Udoh said.
He noted that NAMA’s management received a letter of commendation from the unions to that effect, even though they asked the management to look into some grey areas of the approved salary structure.
He wondered what might have informed the agitation for further increase outside the approved salary by the wages commission.
“This again, the management in its magnanimity set up another advisory committee to do a re-work and further enhancement,’’ Udoh said. (NAN)
An Air Peace flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt has suffered a disruption, after the aircraft was affected by a bird strike on arrival at the Port Harcourt International Airport.
The airline made the disclosure on Thursday in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Osifo-Whiskey Efe.
He added that the incident necessitated safety checks on the affected aircraft and the deployment of another aircraft to convey passengers on subsequent flights.
ALSO READ: Rivers’ CJ Declines Setting Up Panel for Fubara’s Impeachment
“We deeply empathise with passengers affected by this unforeseen incident and are working diligently to minimise disruptions,” Efe said.
The latest incident adds to the growing challenge of bird strikes faced by local airlines.
In December 2025, Air Peace disclosed that it recorded 49 bird strikes across Nigeria between January and September, stressing that even a single strike could ground an aircraft for weeks.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Allen Onyema, had said on Arise TV that bird strikes constituted a major operational challenge, often leading to costly repairs and serious disruptions to flight schedules.
“One bird strike could cripple your aircraft for the next month. At that moment, there is no two ways about it. These bird strikes often lead to costly delays and serious disruptions in flight schedules,” he said.
He added that losses from such incidents compound other challenges facing Nigerian airlines, including heavy taxation and operational constraints.
With the firm belief that it is both sadistic and absolutely despicable, the recently announced outrageous hike in airfares to South East from Abuja to Lagos for Yuletide of 2025 by over 131 percent by Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines, the owners have been asked to immediately have a rethink and review backward these harsh, toxic and unfriendly airfares targeting Igbo passengers exclusively.
Making the charge to the chairmen of Air Peace and United Nigeria airlines, Mr. Allen Ugochukwu and Mr. Obiora Okonkwo, the prominent civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) expressed anger that these businesses whose proprietors are Igbo by birth are fond of making it so difficult for hundreds of thousands of Igbo passengers residing outside of the South-East to travel home on Christmas festivities.
The rights group say that for many years now, because Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines are monopolies and then Igbos have the tradition exclusively in Nigeria of going home to South East from all over the globe during Yuletides, these few airlines have decidedly fixed toxic ticketing airfares for Igbos whereas northerners who also travel during their religious festivities of salah are not subjected to such exploitative treatments.
The HURIWA accused the two airlines of price fixing, which is anti-competition just as the Rights group said it is giving these two Igbo-hating airlines to review backward their toxic and discriminatory airfares within ten working days from today or it will petition the federal government publicly funding consumer rights body[Federal Competition and Consumer Rights Commission) in Abuja.
The HURIWA wonders if these Igbo owners of private airlines known for making their planes available to government for free during emergencies are in a conspiratorial plots with haters of Igbo land who are unhappy at the convivial and happy atmospheres in the South East during Yuletide, just as the rights group has appealed to Igbo governors to immediately intervene and urge Mr. Allen Ugochukwu and Mr Obiora Okonkwo to treat the Igbo just as they treat for instance northern Muslims who also migrate home to northern Nigeria from around the globe during their Muslim festivities because what is good for the goose, is good for the gander.
The HURIWA said that if Air Peace Airlines have gotten involved in many humanitarian efforts of airlifting Nigerians from outside of our shores for free, it becomes of the Airline ought not to maltreat their clients of Igbo extraction.
The HURIWA quoted from the business official website of Air Peace in which it described its latest humanitarian effort to be an addition to a growing list of interventions by Dr. Allen Onyema and Air Peace.
Quoting Air Peace website, HURIWA stated that Air Peace said thus: “In 2019, the airline airlifted 503 Nigerians free of charge from South Africa amidst xenophobic attacks. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Air Peace conducted multiple repatriation flights. In 2022, the airline flew Nigerian evacuees out of war-torn Ukraine. In May 2023, Dr. Onyema again deployed Air Peace aircraft to evacuate 277 stranded Nigerians from Sudan.
As the rescued women prepare to begin a new chapter, supported by medical care and reintegration efforts, one truth stands out: Air Peace is more than just an airline — it is a bridge of hope for Nigerians in crisis, and a national symbol of empathy, courage and service,” HURIWA conclusively quoted Air Peace.
The HURIWA therefore strongly condemns the two airlines for hiking and fixing unaffordable airfares indiscriminately against Igbo passengers, even as the festive season draws near, Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines have raised their return ticket fares to N677,000, a move that could add financial strain on travellers. The rise in airfares reflects the high demand expected during the holiday rush.
Key Points
Air Peace and United Nigeria increase return ticket fares to N677,000 for the yuletide season.
Airfares on routes to the South-East, including Enugu and Anambra, experience the highest surge.
Ibom Air offers comparatively cheaper tickets, with return fares at N381,600.
Air Peace’s one-way fare for December to January peaks at N350,500.
United Nigeria will also charge N350,500 for select routes between December 11 and the end of the year.
Northern routes, including Lagos-Kano, face smaller increases, with fares starting from N106,900.
Experts predict even higher airfares, with one-way tickets possibly reaching N500,000.
The rise in flight prices signals the start of a challenging holiday travel season, with airfares higher than usual due to increased demand. Travelers must be prepared for the surge, with some routes seeing even higher fare projections.
ALSO READ: NNPCL, Partners Ink 20-year 1.29bscf/d Feedgas Supply Deals
The HURIWA is hereby warning the two airlines to withdraw their price fixing malpractices against Igbos or else the Rights group would seek justice and redress for the millions of Igbos who would return home for the 2025 Yuletide from the Federal Competition and Consumer Rights Commission and the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria. The HURIWA threatened to drag the two airlines to the Nigerian President through the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Transportation.
An Abuja-Accra flight experienced technical difficulties mid-air on Friday, forcing it to return to Abuja, shortly after departure.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Board (NSIB) made the disclosure in a statement, adding that it has launched investigation into what it described as a serious accident.
Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance, NSIB, Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji stated that preliminary investigations revealed the aircraft experienced an engine number two indication issue.
ALSO READ: BREAKING: Kyari Oversees NNPC Ltd’s Transparent Recruitment Aptitude Test
It was gathered that the aircraft, with registration number 5NKAL which was operating a flight from the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja (DNAA), to Kotoka International Airport, Accra (DGAA).
She explained that four persons were onboard when the incident occurred. The crew immediately requested for a diversion back to Abuja due to the engine indication.
Oladeji added that the crew managed to safely land the aircraft at Abuja Airport at 18:16 UTC.
There were no injuries reported, and all individuals on board are safe.
WHO Releases Alarming Casualty Figures From US‑Israel‑Iran Conflict
PDP’s Festering Crisis Chases Tambuwal to ADC
$200/barrel Price Likely as Iran Threatens Oil Ships
2026 Poll: Osun Ndigbo Backs Adeleke’s Second-Term Bid
NGX Group, IFC, CSCS and WIMBIZ Convene Leaders to Advance Gender Equality at 2026 Ring the Bell Ceremony
Adeleke on Why he Deserves Second Term
Trump’s Family Unveils New Cryptocurrency Platform
Reps Recommend 3-year Jail Term For Aviation minister
Dangote Cement Lights Up Benue Host Communities With CSR Initiatives
Senate Denies Receiving Petitions Against Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees
Things To Know About Threads, Zuckerberg’s Twitter-like App
