November 09, (THEWILL) – West and Central Africa’s largest airline, Air Peace, was able to operate into Owerri on Thursday morning, despite planned protests by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to disallow flight operations into Owerri, Imo State capital.
The multi-award-winning carrier was able to make the move due to its top-notch On-Time Performance (OTP) rating.
The OTP is a widely accepted method for measuring punctuality across different modes of public transport, not just aviation. It provides a standardised means of comparing how well one service provider operates according to its published schedule, compared to another.
Protesting the assault on Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, last week, the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) declared a strike in Imo from midnight Wednesday, threatening to spread it nationwide from Thursday if their demands were not met.
However, on Thursday, Air Peace was said to have departed before the unions arrived at the GAT terminal of Murtala Muhammed Airport 1.
A ticketing officer at one of the airline’s counters, who identified herself as Mary, told THEWILL that although NLC wanted to protest, their Lagos – Owerri 7am flight was able to operate without hitches, adding that the flight had departed before the protesting NLC members came to the airport.
It was also gathered that at the Sam Mbakwe Airport, there was no disruption of operations. Flights came in from Lagos, Abuja and other places. There were also outbound flights.
A source said there was no disruption of flights, adding that many indigenes arrived in the state for the poll billed for Saturday through the airport.
However, the state had been plunged into darkness for the seventh day due to a stoppage of electricity supply at Egbu Transmission Station, leaving the state with no energy to distribute to Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC) customers.
EDDC spokesman, Emeka Ezeh, said: “The union shut down our source of supply at Egbu Transmission Station, leaving us with no energy to distribute to our customers.
“We regret the inconveniences this situation must have caused our customers, and we hope that the issue will be resolved soon.”
Meanwhile, THEWILL gathered that there is already a division among workers in the state over the proposed strike.
A faction of the union loyal to Ajaero, led by Comrade Ugochukeu Ofoegbu, had in a circular directed the workers to embark on the industrial action. The faction said it was opposed to the conduct of the governorship election on Saturday unless its demands were met.
The State Government chided the faction for its hardline position, saying that the strike was politically motivated.
However, another faction, led by Comrade Phillip Nwansi, and recognised by the State Government, issued a counter-directive that there should be no strike.
While Ofoegbu insisted that the strike began at midnight Wednesday, the Nwansi faction said workers had not down tools.
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
