Hundreds of passengers were left stranded at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Tuesday morning following an industrial action by aviation workers that disrupted airline operations.

Chaotic scenes were reported at the airport terminal as travellers scheduled to fly struggled to obtain information about the status of their flights and when normal operations would resume.

According to reports, passengers were initially locked out of the terminal before they were eventually allowed inside. However, uncertainty persisted as many remained unsure whether their flights would depart or what arrangements had been made for those affected by the strike.

One of the stranded passengers, Emeka “Silencer” Okoli, who was travelling to Enugu for the annual CIC Enugu Convention, described the situation as chaotic and frustrating.

He said:

“Passengers were locked out of the terminal, and families travelling with children were left disappointed, among others.”

Although the terminal was later opened, Okoli said the environment remained overcrowded and disorganised.

“Peace Transport Park is better than what we are currently facing at the airport. Passengers are suffocating from congestion. It’s either the ACs are not working or the crowd is simply too much for the ACs. This is so sad. Very terrible conditions,” he lamented.

He added that passengers had not received clear information about which aviation workers were on strike, how long the industrial action would last, or what contingency plans had been put in place.

The disruption has left many travellers anxious about their journeys, with growing calls for aviation authorities, airlines and labour unions to urgently resolve the dispute and provide timely updates to affected passengers.