Aviation Workers Shut Kano Airport

Post created on 1:35 pm

Aviation workers have shut Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano over a dispute between the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

Flights scheduled to leave Kano on Monday morning were disrupted as the Air Traffic Controllers suspended their operations which affected the landing and taking-off of flights.

An airport official said AZMAN and Max Air flights scheduled for Abuja and Lagos were not allowed to leave, and that passengers after boarding the flights were later told to disembark as the Air Traffic Controllers shut down their operations.

It was gathered that the dispute between the two bodies of the airport started after the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) shut down air navigation services for flights in and out of the Airport, over power supply to NAMA facilities and staff accommodations that were disconnected.

It was gathered that on Friday that FAAN disconnected the power supply to all NAMA staff accommodations due to non-payment of electricity bills.

Our sources added that very important personalities stranded at the airport, including some federal lawmakers, deputy governors, and others, were already intervening to sort out the differences to restore flights operation.

Aviation industry unions have concluded plans to protest at all airports in the country on Monday following what they called the “obnoxious” provisions in the newly signed Civil Aviation Act (CAA) which gives the Minister of Aviation express power to prohibit trade union activities.

 [DailyTrust]