Nigeria's airline, Air Peace, has announced the immediate suspension of all its flight operations across Nigeria following an ongoing strike by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet.
The airline disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
Air Peace said the decision was taken in the interest of passenger safety, as NiMet’s weather updates, particularly the Current Nowcast of Hazardous Weather, CNH, reports, are essential for safe flight landings during the rainy season.
The statement read, “We regret to inform you that due to the ongoing strike by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Air Peace is suspending all flight operations nationwide with immediate effect.
“This decision is necessary because NiMet is the agency responsible for issuing CNH (Current Nowcast of Hazardous Weather) reports, which are critical for safe landings, especially during this season of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms. Without these reports from the control tower, flight safety cannot be guaranteed.
“As a safety-first airline, we have chosen to act responsibly by suspending operations until NiMet resumes full service.
“We understand this may cause inconvenience, and we sincerely apologise. Passengers will be contacted with updates and options for rescheduling.”;
DAILY POST reports that a shutdown of Nigeria's flight operations is imminent as NiMet's workers commenced a strike Wednesday over prolonged remuneration issues.
The development comes as the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, launched the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport in Minna on Wednesday.