Air Peace cancels all flights amid NIMET strike, cites security considerations 

Air Peace has suspended all flight operations later within the day on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, following the graduation of an indefinite strike by the Nigerian Meteorological Company (NiMet), which halted the availability of important climate and navigational providers.

The airline had began the day working scheduled flights, however later grounded its fleet because the strike persevered and climate situations deteriorated.

Air Peace cited the absence of NiMet’s meteorological steering as a significant security concern, stating it couldn’t threat the lives of passengers, crew, or its plane.

In a video obtained by Nairametrics, Air Peace Chairman Allen Onyema was heard on a cellphone name inquiring whether or not NiMet had known as off the strike. After receiving a damaging response, Onyema instantly ordered that every one Air Peace flights be cancelled.

Chatting with Nairametrics, the airline’s spokesperson confirmed:

“With NiMet on strike, there isn’t a meteorological steering. The climate is unhealthy presently, and we can not fly blind. We aren’t able to jeopardize lives, plane, or crew.” 

Regardless of Air Peace’s resolution to floor flights, some airways reportedly continued operations. As of the night of April 23, Nairametrics spoke with two airline reserving brokers in numerous areas. The Lagos-based agent confirmed that flights had ceased earlier within the day, whereas a counterpart in Abuja famous that some flights have been nonetheless departing as late as Wednesday night.

The strike additionally appeared to contribute to a surge in ticket costs. A traveler who contacted Nairametrics mentioned he tried to guide a flight however was quoted a fare of N400,000, considerably greater than the same old common of round N120,000. Unable to afford the sharp enhance, he opted to journey by street as an alternative.

NiMet, which offers important meteorological information for Nigeria’s aviation, agriculture, and maritime sectors, started the economic motion on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. Nonetheless, as of press time, the company had not issued any official assertion throughout its social media platforms, leaving the precise causes for the strike unclear.

Extra insights 

NiMet’s providers play a essential position in aviation security, providing real-time climate forecasts, wind patterns, and visibility stories that information pilot choices and assist airport operations throughout the nation.

The suspension of those providers because of the strike has raised important considerations over flight security and regulatory compliance.

• The ensuing fare spike additionally highlights the fragility of Nigeria’s air journey sector throughout operational disruptions. Whereas Air Peace grounded its fleet over security considerations, stories on whether or not different airways continued operations remained conflicting. This uncertainty, mixed with the dearth of clear communication, left passengers grappling with each security considerations and hovering ticket costs.

As of the time of reporting, different home airways had but to subject public statements on how the NiMet strike was affecting their operations or the protection measures they’d in place.