Passengers stranded as ATCs begin warning strike
By Matthew Eloyi
Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) have commenced a two-day disruption of early morning domestic flights across the country to press home their demands for better working conditions, leaving passengers stranded at airports.
The disruption is expected to last for three hours each day between 6 am and 9 am.
The action has already affected the flight schedules of many airlines as they had to reschedule.
The action of the Traffic Controllers is coming after another ATC, Mr Aniekan Effiong Inuk, died in the early hours of Monday while on duty at the Nnamidi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
A statement issued by the Controllers read: “That commencing from 0600 UTC today, 23rd November 2021, ATC units nationwide should operate flow control. That all departures should be spaced at 20 minutes intervals. That all international flights are exempted.”
“That all ATCOs should endeavour to be on high alert should there be a need to escalate this exercise beyond flow control, we are ready to further such actions. That this exercise will be for two days and will be strictly executed at the four major airports with strict coordination from adjacent aerodromes before any start up is issued”.
