The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has commenced an investigation into the parking of an Air Peace bus on the airside of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, during the recent industrial action by aviation unions.
The incident occurred amid the disruption of flight operations at Lagos and Abuja airports after aviation unions picketed Air Peace outlets over alleged non-remittance of the Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) and alleged violations of workers’ unionisation rights.
A photograph circulating on social media showed the Air Peace bus parked within the restricted airside area, while a video showed the vehicle being towed away by officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Reports indicated that the bus driver allegedly drove into the airside and parked there while the picketing was ongoing. The vehicle was subsequently towed away to facilitate the movement of aircraft and other airport operations.
Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, described the incident as an offence, saying the authority would investigate and ensure that anyone found responsible faced appropriate action.
“It is a crime to do that and whoever does that should be arrested. We will investigate and whoever it is, there will be no sacred cow,” Achimugu said.
Osifo-Whiskey Efe, spokesperson for Air Peace, said he could not immediately comment on the incident, promising to respond later.
Efe, however, clarified that the vehicle was not parked on the runway but within the airport’s airside area.
The airside is the restricted operational section of an airport where aircraft operate and where access is limited to authorised personnel and vehicles.
Meanwhile, FAAN said it was monitoring the situation arising from the industrial action and working with aviation agencies, airlines and security authorities to minimise its impact on airport operations.
The agency said earlier operational challenges affecting the movement of some flights within the airside environment had been addressed through inter-agency coordination.
FAAN assured passengers and other airport users that measures were being sustained to ensure the orderly continuation of flight operations.
The authority also reaffirmed its commitment to keeping Nigeria’s airports safe, secure, functional and accessible despite the ongoing industrial action.