Nigeria’s aviation unions have threatened to shut down airports nationwide from March 31, 2025, unless the customs officer accused of assaulting the director of aviation security at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is sanctioned.
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This was disclosed in a statement signed by Ocheme Aba, Frances Akinjole, and Abdul Rasaq Saidu on behalf of 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).
The unions condemned what they described as repeated physical attacks on FAAN personnel and demanded that the number of customs officers operating within the aviation sector be reduced, citing global best practices. They also called for a framework that ensures mutual respect among FAAN staff and security agencies at airports.
Warning of potential industrial action, the unions stated that all aviation workers would withdraw their services from airports by the set deadline if their demands were not met.
“The assault on the director of aviation security is one incident too many,” the statement read, stressing that failure to address their concerns could lead to a full-scale crisis in the industry.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) attributed the incident to a misunderstanding. NCS spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada explained that the disagreement between customs officers and FAAN officials resulted from issues related to equipment movement and seating arrangements.
