Passengers travelling through the Port Harcourt International Airport on Wednesday were stranded as major flights were disrupted due to an ongoing protest by residents of Omagwa and Ipo communities in the Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The protest, which took place at the entrance to the airport, was fueled by grievances over the lack of power and other essential services in the communities hosting the international airport.
The demonstrators, numbering in large crowds and gathering as early as 7 am, barricaded the airport entrance, leading to a halt in flight operations.
As a result, passengers were left stranded, and traffic congestion extended from the Airport Road to nearby towns.
The protesters voiced their frustration, citing a lack of compensation despite enduring regular noise pollution from the airport.
Oki, one of the protesters, lamented the neglect of their communities by airport authorities.
“We in Omagwa and Ipo don’t have light for over 10 years. We want compensation for the noise pollution coming from the airport every day. We are tired. That is why we are here,” she said.