Aviation workers protest hand over of GAT terminal

PROTEST by aviation workers yesterday almost aborted the handing over of the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, to Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, builders and managers of MMA2.

This came as aviation minister, Babatunde Omotoba, also issued a statement dismissing Arik Air’s claim that he was directed by the attorney-general and minister of justice, Michael Aondoakaa, to hand over the terminal to Bi-Courtney.

The atmosphere was so charged that the necessary environment was not created for the handover, which compelled the minister to depart for Abuja at about 4:00pm .

The workers, who protested under the platform of National Union of Air Traffic Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and National Union of Pensioners (NUP), also vowed to embark on a nationwide strike next Wednesday to further register their displeasure against what they called an illegal deal and vowed to resist it.

Wielding strongly-worded placards, the protesting aviation workers also called for the sack of the aviation minister for colluding with the minister of justice to criminally take over the old domestic terminal and hand it over to a private monopoly without due process.