The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has launched an investigation into the parking of an Air Peace bus on the airside of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, during the ongoing industrial action by aviation unions.

Airside refers to the restricted operational section of an airport where aircraft movements and other aviation activities take place.

A photograph circulating on social media showed an Air Peace bus parked within the airside area, while a separate video showed the vehicle being towed away.

The incident occurred amid disruptions caused by the industrial action, which saw aviation unions picket Air Peace offices at the Lagos and Abuja airports over alleged non-remittance of Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) and claims of violations of workers’ unionisation rights.

The picketing disrupted access to terminals at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, leaving several passengers stranded.

According to reports, the driver of the bus drove into the airside and parked there while the picketing was ongoing. The vehicle was subsequently towed away by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to facilitate the movement of aircraft and other airport operations.

Speaking with TheCable on Tuesday, Michael Achimugu, NCAA director of public affairs and consumer protection, described the action as an offence and said those responsible would face investigation.

“It is a crime to do that and whoever does that should be arrested. We will investigate and whoever it is, there will be no sacred cow,” Achimugu said.

Osifo-Whiskey Efe, spokesperson for Air Peace, said he was unable to comment immediately on the incident.

“I can’t answer you on this at the moment. I will have to get back to you on this,” he said.

Efe, however, clarified that the vehicle was not parked on the runway but within the airside area.

Efforts to obtain further comments from FAAN were unsuccessful.

FAAN: Airside operational challenges resolved

Earlier, FAAN said it was monitoring developments arising from the industrial action and collaborating with relevant government agencies, airlines and security agencies to minimise its impact on airport operations.

The authority said operational challenges affecting the movement of some flights within the airside environment had been addressed through inter-agency coordination.

“In the interim, FAAN is working closely with the relevant aviation agencies, airlines, security agencies and other stakeholders to minimise the impact of the industrial action and ensure that airport operations are not disrupted,” the authority said.

FAAN added that measures were being sustained to ensure the orderly continuation of flight operations.

“The authority also confirms that earlier operational challenges affecting the movement of some flights within the airside environment have been addressed through ongoing inter-agency coordination, and measures are being sustained to support the orderly continuation of flight operations.”

The airport authority reiterated its commitment to keeping Nigeria’s airports safe, secure, functional and accessible to passengers and other airport users.