Operations at the Port Harcourt International Airport in Rivers State were temporarily halted on Wednesday due to a protest by members of the Ipo community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the State.
Dressed in black attires, the demonstrators caused a significant halt to airport activities, demanding attention to their community’s lack of basic amenities.
The protesters, wielding placards with inscriptions such as ‘What is our offence?’, ‘Over Seven Years of No NEPA Light,’ ‘No single access to mobile network,’ and ‘No good access roads within Ipo community,’ effectively blocked the Roundabout gate leading into the airport complex. This action disrupted flights, particularly departures, for approximately two to three hours, according to a source from within the airport.
“Arrivals were not affected, but departing passengers could not access the airport until the protest concluded around 8am,” the source disclosed.
However, in response to the commotion, chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, Sergeant Awuse, engaged with the protesters, promising immediate attention to their grievances.
“I will personally accompany the airport management team to Ipo community to oversee the improvements and development efforts needed,” Awuse assured the protesting community members.
He also proposed that the airport manager constitute a team, comprising members of the airport management, to join him in visiting the community on Friday.
Following the assurances, the protesters dispersed, allowing normal airport operations to resume thereafter.
