Aviation unions petition Presidency over Air Peace airside invasion

A coalition of aviation unions has petitioned the presidency over an alleged airside invasion by Air Peace Airlines at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on 11 August 2026, demanding an urgent security investigation and prosecution of anyone found culpable.

In a petition to the National Security Adviser, obtained by The PUNCH, the unions alleged that Air Peace management and staff drove five branded buses onto the airport’s taxiway and manoeuvring area after a trade union picketing exercise, disrupting flight operations and posing a significant threat to aviation safety.

The petition was signed by General Secretary of the Airline Staff and Service Association of Nigeria, Frances Akinjole, General Secretary of the National Union of Air Transport Employees, Igene P.I.A, and Deputy General Secretary of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, Umoho Otonime.

The unions described the alleged incident as a national security concern, warning that any unauthorised obstruction of critical aviation infrastructure could endanger passengers, aircraft crew and airport personnel.

The unions had earlier served lawful picketing notices on 16 domestic airlines, most of which they said belonged to the Airline Operators of Nigeria, over alleged infringements of workers’ rights to unionise and the continued failure to remit the statutory Ticket Sales Charge collected from passengers.

The unions accused the airlines of obstructing workers’ unionisation in violation of Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, Section 9 of the Labour Act, the Trade Unions Act, and International Labour Organization Conventions 87 and 98, ratified by Nigeria.

They also alleged that the failure to remit the TSC had affected the operations of key aviation agencies, including the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau and Nigerian College of Aviation Technology.

The unions said the alleged non-remittance had undermined the implementation of negotiated collective bargaining agreements and fuelled discontent among aviation agency workers.

“The non-remittance of the TSC has rendered implementation of the various duly negotiated Collective Bargaining Agreements of the agencies nugatory,” the petition read.

It further warned that the growing agitation among workers could undermine industrial harmony and aviation safety.

To avoid a simultaneous shutdown of flight operations nationwide, the unions said they resolved to picket the defaulting airlines one after another, with Air Peace scheduled for the first day of action on 11 August 2026.

They maintained that the picketing was peaceful and lawful, stressing that it took place at the airline’s operational office and counter area, not on the airport’s airside.

However, the unions alleged that some Air Peace staff became physically violent towards unarmed union members and attempted to incite passengers against them.

The unions said that their members remained calm and continued with the exercise without retaliation, adding that the picketing was suspended that afternoon following the intervention of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo and security agencies at the airport.

The petition alleged that Air Peace subsequently reacted to the picketing by mobilising five branded buses and driving them onto the airport’s taxiway and manoeuvring area in an attempt to obstruct aircraft movement and prevent other airlines from operating.

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“In a reckless and dangerous act of self-help and sabotage, the management and staff of Air Peace Airlines mobilised five of its branded buses and deliberately drove them onto and parked them across the Taxiway and Manoeuvring Area of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos,” the unions alleged.

They claimed the action halted flight operations from Lagos for several hours, endangered passengers and airport workers, and exposed aircraft to the risk of collision.

The unions argued that the alleged action went beyond an industrial dispute, describing it as a potential threat to national security because of the importance of aviation infrastructure to the country’s economy and public safety.

They urged the NSA to investigate whether the incident breached relevant provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Civil Aviation Act, 2022, particularly those relating to interference with aviation facilities and the endangerment of aircraft.

The unions also expressed concern that failure to address the incident could set a dangerous precedent, allowing aggrieved operators to disrupt critical aviation infrastructure to advance their interests.

As part of their demands, the unions called on the NSA to initiate a discreet and comprehensive forensic investigation through a joint security team comprising the Department of State Services, NCAA aviation security personnel and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria aviation security personnel.

They urged the authorities to identify, arrest and prosecute all persons found culpable, including those who allegedly authorised the deployment of the buses.

The petition also asked the NSA to direct FAAN to preserve and release CCTV footage, air traffic control voice recordings and airside vehicle logs relating to the incident.

The workers demand include “In the interest of national integrity, aviation safety and sovereignty, we most respectfully pray the National Security Adviser to; Immediately cause a discreet and thorough forensic investigation into the runway/taxiway invasion of 11 August 2026 by a Joint Security Team led by your office, involving DSS, NCAA AVSEC, and FAAN AVSEC.

“Identify, arrest and prosecute all persons culpable, including those who authorized the deployment of the five buses, in accordance with the Terrorism Act and Civil Aviation Act.

“Direct FAAN to preserve and release all CCTV, ATC voice recordings and airside vehicle logs of that day.

“Direct the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority to invoke severe sanctions against Air Peace Airlines for bringing the aviation sector to ridicule and endangering public safety.

“Compel the relevant regulatory authorities to enforce compliance regarding the remittance of the Ticket Sales Charge and the strict adherence to labour laws guaranteeing the right to unionization across all domestic airlines. Ensure protection for Union members and aviation agency staff who are now targets of intimidation for performing lawful duties.”

Attempts to reach the airline’s spokesperson, Efe Osifo-Whiskey, for comments were unsuccessful, as he neither answered his phone calls nor responded to text messages seeking clarification on the matter as of press time.