*Union threatens ‘Occupy Lagos  state protest’

NLC in protest on Ikorodu Road in Lagos. Action disrupts traffic. Photo: Bukoye Oluwafunso

The Ayuba Wabba-led faction of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened to ground flight operations at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos from Thursday, if the Federal Government refuses to revert the pump price of petrol to N87 per litre.

Mr Adelegan Solomon, Vice-President, NLC, made this known while addressing protesters at the MMIA over the government’s removal of fuel subsidy.

Solomon, who is also the President of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUCPTRE), urged Nigerians to unanimously reject the hike in fuel price.

According to him, the N145 per litre announced by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) will further increase the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.

He noted that Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) were members of AUCPTRE, adding that arrangements have been perfected to ground flight operations at the airport from Thursday.

“Today, few planes have taken-off and landed on this airport but by tomorrow, no plane will land or take off. It is operation occupy Lagos State,’’ Solomon said.

Also speaking, the President, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr Nasir Fagge, said Nigerians must remain united against the ruling class.

“We are convinced that what is going on now is a war of liberation.

“We in ASUU believe that any change that does not lead to transformation is underdevelopment,’’ Fagge said.

Flight operations were hitch-free on Wednesday at both the international and domestic wings of the airport, despite an early morning protest by the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE).

Employees of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), also resumed at their offices, as directed by the government.

Mrs Victoria Menta, Commissioner of Police, Lagos Airport Police Command, who deployed officers around strategic locations at the airport, later met with the union members and enjoined them to be peaceful.

However, some travellers were left stranded for several hours, due to the traffic caused by the protesters.