Nigerian aviation employees have blocked roads to the domestic terminal of Lagos airport, slowing traffic and threatening to delay flights as they began a two-day strike in protest over working conditions and wages.
In the commercial capital Lagos, chanting workers blocked roads to the domestic terminal on Monday, creating a traffic jam and forcing passengers to finish their journey on foot.
International flights were not affected. Police and army personnel watched from a distance.
"It is time for us to release aviation workers from the bondage of this imperialist aviation management that we have been having for years," Abdulrasaq Saidu, secretary general of the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals said.
Wage dispute
Unions representing pilots, engineers, control tower operators and other airport workers say they are protesting against unpaid wages, the failure of the government to implement a minimum wage for the industry and plans to demolish the Lagos offices of some aviation agencies to allow expansion of the airport.
The workers have threatened to strike indefinitely later this month if their grievances are not addressed.
Earlier in the federal capital Abuja, workers blocked the main toll road to the airport, forcing travellers to leave their vehicles and hop onto motorbikes to access the terminal buildings.
But the striking workers later moved and traffic began moving smoothly, a Reuters news agency witness said.
Lagos and Abuja airport management advised travellers to allow extra time to travel to the airport due to the strike.
In northern Kano state, flights were on schedule although aviation workers picketed at the airport.
Nigeria's aviation ministry did not respond to requests for comment on Monday.
