Flights Affected As Protest Rocks Port-Harcourt Airport

Flights were disrupted at the Port Harcourt International Airport after a protest embarked on by some women from the Ipo community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The protesters all dressed in black barricaded the airport roundabout gate which leads into the complex even as they brandished placards with various inscriptions some of which read: ‘What is our offence?’ ‘Over Seven Years of No NEPA Light,’ ‘No single access to mobile network,’ ‘No good access roads within Ipo community,’ among others.

The situation affected flights within the airport for about two to three hours.

A source inside the airport said that, “While arrivals weren’t affected, flights couldn’t depart because the passengers were prevented from getting into the airport itself. The disruption lasted till about 8 am after which the gates were opened.”

Amid the noise and commotion, the Chairman of the Rivers State Council of traditional rulers, Sergeant Awuse, addressed the women and promised them that he would personally come with the airport management team to see to the improvement and development of their community.

He further requested the airport manager organize a team made up of members of the airport management to join him in the community on Friday.