By Francis Ajuonuma
One of the leading airlines in the country, Air Peace has suspended all it flight operations nationwide.
The suspension which was with immediate effect was due to the ongoing strike by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
According to the airline, the decision becomes necessary because NiMet is the agency responsible for issuing Current Nowcast of Hazardous Weather (CNH) reports, which are crucial for safe landings, especially during this season of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms. Without these reports from the control tower, flight safety cannot be guaranteed.
“As a safety-first airline, we have acted responsibly by suspending operations until NiMet resumes full service.
“We understand this may cause inconvenience, and we sincerely apologize. Passengers will be contacted with updates and options for rescheduling,” the airline stated.
The ongoing NiMet strike is supported by the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), and the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP).
In a statement to their agency members, the unions said that they had strived over the past few years to alleviate the exceedingly unjust remunerations conundrum that had visited extreme poverty and consequent untold hardship on NiMet workers, but the efforts had no substantial result.
The unions pointed out that the agreements reached between NiMet management and them on January 29, 2025, to ameliorate the conditions partially had been breached.
The statement added “In light of management’s inability to address our given concerns, we can no longer continue to cope with present hardships, and especially as the ultimatum given to the management has expired, we have no choice but to resume the suspended strike.
“Accordingly, all staff of Nimet nationwide are hereby directed to withdraw all service from the agency indefinitely with effect from midnight of Tuesday, April 22, 2025, without exception until otherwise directed.
