Hundreds of air passengers were today stranded as Aviation unions shut down Murtala Mohammed Terminal 2 Lagos, blocking the gates in and out of the terminal to protest the sack of their members, this is despite the Federal High Court order restraining the three unions carrying out a protest.
Many passengers in a hurry to board their flights were not allowed to walk or drive in as members of the union blocked the gates with their vehicles and chanting solidarity songs.
Some of the passengers were forced to move to the General Aviation Terminal One operated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN to buy another airline ticket to avoid missing their appointments for the day, while others not traveling for urgent reasons had to go back home.
Airlines affected include, Dana, Arik, Aero, Max, Medview and Azman.
Also affected are offices and staff operating within the terminal which include, the banks, entries, shopping malls, travel agencies, car rentals, boutiques, ground handling companies among others.
The unions Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) had given notice that they would disrupt operations at MMA2 over the disengagement of some workers of Bi-Courtney Aviation services L limited manager of the terminal who they said were disengaged for their alleged attempt to join them, but who the company said had attained retirement age or were found not to be diligent in their duties.
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos had granted an order restraining the three unions from carrying out their threats of disrupting the activities of the terminal in the suit filed by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of MMA2.
In a statement, signed by its spokesman, Mr. Steve Omolale said, any attempt to carry out this lawless act despite the subsisting court order would be viewed seriously and considered as an act of economic sabotage targeting a concession which they constantly tried to truncate.
He stressed that as a law-abiding corporate citizen, they would do everything possible within the ambit of the law to protect their facility.
