In a turbulent blow to Nigeria’s aviation sector, Air Peace, the nation’s leading carrier, canceled dozens of domestic flights on April 23, 2025, as a strike by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) workers grounded operations nationwide.
The unconfirmed strike, stemmed from NiMET staff demanding better welfare and equipment upgrades, disrupting weather forecasts critical for safe flights. The action, following a 14-day ultimatum, left passengers stranded at Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt airports, with Air Peace citing “operational constraints” in a statement, per Investors King.
The strike’s impact, felt across Nigeria’s 6.7% air travel growth, per IATA, halted Air Peace’s 70 daily flights, affecting thousands. NiMET’s role in providing real-time weather data, essential for Nigeria’s rainy season, exposed aviation’s vulnerability, as 57.8% of mobile users rely on 2G networks, per Freedom House, limiting digital updates. The Federal Government, via Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo, urged dialogue, but no resolution emerged by April 24.
Air Peace, grappling with 26% inflation pressures, per the IMF, offered rebookings, yet the cancellations strained its 2024 profits.