Aviation Unions Set to Shut Down Nigerian Airports Over Alleged Assault on FAAN Official

Aviation unions in Nigeria have issued a warning that they will shut down all airports from March 31, 2025, in protest against the failure to remove a Customs officer accused of assaulting the Director of Aviation Security at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

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) made this threat in a joint statement on Monday. The statement, signed by union leaders Ocheme Aba, Frances Akinjole, and Abdul Rasaq Saidu, condemned the repeated physical attacks on FAAN personnel and demanded urgent action from the government.

The unions called for an immediate reduction in the number of Customs officers operating within Nigeria’s civil aviation sector, aligning with international standards. They emphasized the need to establish clear guidelines that ensure mutual respect between FAAN staff and security agencies operating at airports.

“Given the increasing cases of physical and psychological assaults on FAAN staff and management personnel, and with no end in sight, we are compelled to inform the management of our unwavering commitment to securing a framework that guarantees their safety and human rights,” the statement read.

The unions further declared that if these measures are not implemented, all workers under their jurisdiction will withdraw from airport duties starting March 31, 2025, until a proper protocol is in place.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has attributed the recent altercation between its officers and FAAN officials to miscommunication over equipment movement and seating arrangements. NCS spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada issued a statement clarifying that the incident was not an intentional act of aggression but a misunderstanding.