Chaos erupted across Nigeria’s major aviation hubs on Tuesday morning as aviation labor unions, supported by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), shut down the operations of Air Peace at both the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The joint action was executed by three major aviation unions—the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE).
The blockade left hundreds of domestic and regional passengers stranded at terminals, with check-in counters abandoned and scheduled flights halted.
The escalation follows a warning issued on August 4, 2026, when unions signaled an impending strike over lingering disputes with domestic airlines under the umbrella of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON).
According to a joint statement released by the unions, the decision to picket Air Peace stems from two primary infractions:
