By ZAINAB JUNAID
Flight operations to Anambra International Airport could have been disrupted on Sunday if not for the quick intervention of Anambra State Government, as Air Traffic Controllers have decided to stop operations following restrictions of NAMA Staffs working at the airport by the hotels management they camp in.
President, National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) Abayomi Agoro had earlier alleged that NAMA staff working at the airport were suddenly vacated from accommodations yesterday without prior information.
“Even those on duty are being asked to pay for their accommodations for last night. As at the time of this report we are all in hotel packing our belongs to leave.” A radio message from the Controllers earlier on Sunday reads that “any station/DATCO sending flights to Anambra Airport today should first confirm whether the TWR is operational The reason is that all Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) staff working at the airport were suddenly vacated from their accommodation yesterday without prior information.
Agoro explained that the state government failed to honour its agreement on accommodation and other incentives to NAMA. Since the airport is state owned, the Federal Government is not responsible for the airport, a situation that makes the Anambra Government to be responsible 100 percent for the operations of the aerodrome.”
However, the development has prompted the state government to quickly reached out to the management of NAMA to forestall actions that could disrupt air travel to the state and attendant hiccups to passengers who would have suffered hardship of flight disruptions.
Abayomi confirmed this later on Sunday, saying, the state government had reached an agreement with the workers to continue to provide accommodation for them in the discharge of their duties and thus they (NAMA Staff) have backed down on their earlier decision of shutting down the airport.
