Air Peace has announced the suspension of all its domestic flight operations due to an industrial strike by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, which began on Wednesday.
The airline made the disclosure in a statement issued on 23 April, stating that the move was prompted by safety concerns arising from the absence of essential weather information normally provided by NiMet.
According to Air Peace, the unavailability of the Current Nowcast of Hazardous Weather, CNH, reports — crucial for safe landings during the rainy season — has rendered flight operations unsafe.
“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,” the airline’s statement read.
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“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,” the statement continued.
The airline emphasised that without the CNH reports being relayed from the control tower, it would be unable to ensure the safety of its passengers and crew.
“As a safety-first airline, we have chosen to act responsibly by suspending operations until NiMet resumes full service,” the statement added.
Air Peace extended apologies to affected passengers and assured them that they would be contacted with updates and options for rescheduling their flights.
NiMet staff commenced the strike action on Wednesday in protest over unresolved issues concerning remuneration and working conditions, throwing nationwide flight operations into uncertainty.
The disruption coincided with the commissioning of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport in Minna by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.
As of press time, no timeline had been provided for the resumption of NiMet services, leaving the aviation sector in a state of flux.
Air Peace is one of Nigeria’s leading domestic carriers, with operations spanning major cities including Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano.
