Students, under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Students, on Monday made good their threat to ground activities at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos when they defied early morning downpour to block access roads to both the international and domestic terminals of the airport.
The action was in continuation of their protests against the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
The blockage of the access roads left air passengers stranded, forcing airlines to reschedule most of their flights.
The students, however, told The PUNCH that they will be taking their protest to Apapa Ports on Tuesday (today).
The association’s South West Coordinator, Adegboye Olatunji, disclosed this in an interview with one of our correspondents on Monday.
“We will be moving to Apapa seaports on Tuesday if the Federal Government refuses to do the needful. Students are tired of staying at home,” Olatunji said.
Lagos airport roads
As of 8am on Monday, NANS members stopped passengers at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Toll gate plaza from accessing the airport to board their flights.
The students later moved to the domestic airport, causing a standstill situation along the airport road and Mobolaji Bank Anthony Road leading to the local airport.
Activities were affected at both Domestic Terminal I also known as the General Aviation Terminal and Terminal II as the students prevented passengers from accessing the airport.
The protesting students wielded placards with inscriptions such as ‘Our education is more important than your election’ and ‘Education is a right, open our schools,’ among others.
The blockage led to traffic gridlock around Ikeja environs as motorists and commuters were stranded.
Stranded passengers
As the gridlock persisted, most commuters and air travellers resorted to trekking with their luggage on their heads.
There was also a heavy presence of security operatives at the location.
The immediate past president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olumide Akpata was also caught up in the protest as he had to walk towards the Hajj Camp where he joined his driver.
