The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has urged striking aviation unions to suspend their industrial action, revealing that a peace meeting convened by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, collapsed after airline representatives failed to attend.
The regulatory body’s appeal follows widespread flight groundings, including the shutdown of operations at Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest carrier. The ongoing dispute between labour groups and domestic airlines has left hundreds of passengers stranded at terminals in Lagos and Abuja.
In a statement released on Tuesday, NCAA Director-General Chris Najomo acknowledged the disruption to passengers and stakeholders, urging the unions to “sheathe their swords and exercise restraint” while Keyamo continues efforts to mediate the crisis.
Najomo disclosed that the impasse could have been addressed earlier, but attempts at resolution fell through. “The matter would have been addressed at the meeting convened by the Honourable Minister last week, but the meeting could not be held as the airline operators failed to honour the invitation,” he stated.
Despite the groundings, the aviation watchdog assured the public that safety standards have not been compromised. Najomo emphasised that “the NCAA assures the travelling public that flight safety remains uncompromised, and that the Authority continues to exercise its statutory safety oversight responsibilities.”