Aviation unions have warned of an unprecedented shutdown of flights starting March 31 unless authorities remove a customs officer implicated in assaulting the director of aviation security at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
In a strongly worded joint statement, the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), and the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) decried repeated physical and psychological attacks on FAAN personnel.
They called for immediate measures to reduce the number of customs officers in civil aviation, arguing that current staffing levels fall far short of global benchmarks. “The ongoing abuse is intolerable,” the unions stated, emphasizing that strict sanctions will be imposed if a framework for mutual respect is not established at airports.
While a spokesperson for Customs attributed the incident to miscommunication regarding equipment movement and seating arrangements, union leaders remain unmoved.
They have vowed to withdraw all aviation workers from duty if their demands for safer working conditions and respect for FAAN staff are not met.
Critics argue that the incident highlights deeper systemic flaws in airport security management and a broader culture of neglect within the sector.
