By Peter Omopo
Chaos erupted at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja as dozens of passengers, including families with children and expatriates, were left stranded overnight following the abrupt cancellation of multiple Air Peace flights.
Stranded travellers were forced to spend the night on cold aluminium chairs in the airport’s departure hall, with many expressing outrage over the airline’s handling of the situation. Videos and photos obtained by PUNCH Online showed angry passengers protesting, some demanding explanations, while others sat helplessly in frustration.
The mass cancellations come amid a surge in delayed and disrupted Air Peace flights in recent weeks—a trend that has sparked tension between the airline and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
While the NCAA has issued warnings to the airline over what it described as “chronic delays and cancellations,” Air Peace has maintained that its decisions are driven by safety considerations and not taken lightly.
Among those affected was Dr. Kunle Ashimi, former Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association in Ogun State, who was scheduled to fly to Lagos at 6:00 p.m. on Friday. After multiple delays, he remained stranded at the airport until after 3:00 a.m.
“If it had been a passenger arriving late, they would be penalised or denied boarding,” Ashimi said. “But who holds the airline accountable for this kind of abuse?”
He described the experience as both financially and emotionally draining, noting that he had paid for a hotel in Ikorodu, Lagos, which he never made it to. He also recounted the plight of a foreign national who missed a once-weekly international connecting flight due to the delays.
Many affected passengers are calling on the government to step in and address the growing disruptions plaguing Nigeria’s aviation sector.
