Nigeria’s aviation sector breathed a sigh of relief as the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) workers suspended their strike on April 24, 2025, following federal government intervention, allowing airlines like Air Peace to resume flights by April 25.
The strike, launched on April 23 over poor working conditions, grounded flights nationwide, stranding thousands as NiMET’s weather forecasts, critical for safe operations, were unavailable, per Vanguard. The action, driven by demands for better pay and equipment, disrupted Nigeria’s 6.7% air travel growth, per IATA.
NiMET staff, via the Nigeria Civil Service Union, issued a 14-day ultimatum in March, citing outdated radar systems and salaries below Nigeria’s ₦70,000 minimum wage, per Nairametrics. The strike halted Air Peace’s 70 daily flights, with Lagos and Abuja airports hardest hit, per BusinessDay.
Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo brokered a deal, promising equipment upgrades and a 25% salary hike by June. Air Peace issued apologies, offering rebookings to affected passengers, amid Nigeria’s 46% poverty rate, according to stats by the World Bank.
The resolution, though temporary, averts further losses in a sector contributing 0.4% to GDP, per the IMF. Keyamo’s pledge to modernize NiMET’s 22 weather stations faces scrutiny as 57.8% of Nigerians lack reliable internet for updates.