The recent nationwide strike, which spanned two days, has led to a significant financial setback for Nigeria’s cargo transport sector.
The Domestic Airports Cargo Agents Association (DACAA) estimates the economic impact to be around N7 billion.
The strike, initiated by the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, saw workers halting their activities on Monday and Tuesday. Mr. Ikpe Nkanang, the Chairman of DACAA’s Board of Trustees, shared these insights with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
On average, Nigeria’s domestic airports handle about 30 tonnes of cargo daily.
The strike resulted in a substantial volume of cargo being left untransported, causing a ripple effect on the economy.
Mr. Nkanang highlighted the severity of the situation, noting that the accumulated cargo from the weekend was expected to be shipped out at the start of the week.
“For those two days, the airlines were not working, and once the airlines are not working, cargo cannot move, and it is a great loss to all of us.
“You needed to see the volume of cargo that was dumped over those two days; of course, you know we gathered cargoes during the weekend hoping that by Monday and Tuesday we would be able to send them out.
“It was a colossal loss to us in the cargo world, it affected our income and, of course, the economy of the country.
“For those few hours of the strike, the country lost about N7 billion across all local airports,” he said.
He also pointed out the cost of transporting a kilogram of cargo, which stands at N300, underscoring the scale of the financial loss.
In light of these events, Mr. Nkanang appealed to the Federal Government to expedite negotiations with the organized labor to prevent the possibility of another strike.
The labor unions have temporarily suspended the strike to allow for discussions regarding a new minimum wage.
The strike had a paralyzing effect on airport operations, with aviation unions effectively blocking all entry points to domestic terminals, further emphasizing the strike’s extensive impact on the country’s cargo transportation network.
