Air Peace Suspends Flight Operations Nationwide Amid NiMet Strike

Air Peace, Nigeria's leading airline, has suspended all its flight operations nationwide due to an ongoing strike by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet). The decision was made with passenger safety as a priority, as NiMet's weather updates, particularly the Current Nowcast of Hazardous Weather (CNH) reports, are crucial for ensuring safe landings during the rainy season.

According to Dr. Ejike Ndiulo, Head of Corporate Communications at Air Peace, "Without these reports from the control tower, flight safety cannot be guaranteed." As a safety-first airline, Air Peace has chosen to act responsibly by suspending operations until NiMet resumes full service.¹

The strike, backed by three industry unions - National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), and Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) - began on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, due to disputes over delayed remuneration and breached agreements between NiMet management and the unions.²

Impact on Passengers

The suspension of flight operations may cause inconvenience for passengers, and Air Peace has apologized for the disruption. Passengers will be contacted with updates and options for rescheduling their flights. Air Peace operates over 200 daily flights and serves millions of passengers annually, so the impact of this suspension is significant.³

Reason Behind the Strike

The NiMet workers' strike stems from the agency's inability to address the unions' concerns regarding remuneration and working conditions. Despite efforts to alleviate the unjust remuneration conundrum, the situation has led to extreme poverty and hardship for NiMet workers, prompting the unions to resume the suspended strike.

Haruna Yakubu Haruna