LAGOS — The National Association of Nigerians Students, NANS, yesterday grounded activities at the country’s main gateway, the Murtala Muhammad Airport, Ikeja, in protest against the continued strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, which has kept students at home for over seven months.
The students’ body also vowed to extend the protest to the Apapa Wharf and Tin Can Island ports and the Third Mainland Bridge today.
ASUU embarked on strike on February 14 to protest the Federal Government’s failure to meet the demands of its members, among which implementation of the agreement it signed with the government in 2009 on Earned Allowances and replacement of Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, IPPIS, and University Transparency and Accountability Solution, UTAS.
Not even the early morning downpour stopped the students from trooping out for the protest as early as 6am, as they set out to stop all flights out of Lagos, especially the first flights.
Consequently, all access roads to both local and international wings of the airport were blocked to motorists, causing serious traffic gridlocks, which compelled passengers to trek kilometers with their luggage to connect their flights.
Touts took advantage of the situation to make brisk business, charging passengers as much as between N2,000 and N3,000 to convey each passenger’s luggage to terminals of the airport.
Some bed-ridden travellers were seen being pushed on wheel chairs to the terminal due to the blockade.
Several passengers also missed their flights, as operators flew half-empty out of Lagos.
A stranded commuter and employee of the Federal Government, Oyetunji Sanusi, said he got stuck in the traffic on his way to work at at 8:30 a m.
“I have suffered today (yesterday). This is 2:30pm and I am still here. The agitation is worth it but the hardship it has caused is unimaginable. My appeal to the government is that they should find a lasting solution to this issue.’’
Another very angry commuter, Francis Phillips, said he had been to 88 countries of the world, adding that Nigeria remained the worst.
Even the spoon we use to eat here is sub-standard. I am stranded here and my wife is stranded at the local airport. Even in Somalia, it doesn’t happen like this. It is a shame,” he said.
He added that everyone had the right to protest but regretted that those who should be targetted were not affected by the protests.
“They are busy sharing money because they don’t know their right from their left,” he said.
Also, a sick commuter who said his house was just about five minutes from the airport, said he needed to pass to access his drugs.
He said: “I have been here since 7 a m and my car is parked somewhere there. I need to get home to take my drugs and eat but I am afraid to leave my car here.”
Although the police had on Sunday, warned the students to steer clear of the airport to stave off confrontation from operatives, they however, provided security cover for the protesting students and even pleaded with them to stop action which they refused.
They were conveyed to the airport axis in over 20 vans, cars to prevent the protest from being hijacked by hoodlums
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