After several women from the Ipo community in Rivers State’s Ikwerre Local Government Area staged a protest, flights at the Port Harcourt International Airport were grounded.
The demonstrators, who were all dressed in black, held signs with varied messages, some of which asked, “What is our offence?” while blocking the airport roundabout gate that leads into the complex. “More Than Seven Years Without NEPA Light,” “No Unified Mobile Network Access,” “No Appropriate Access Roads Within Ipo Community,” and so on.
Flights within the airport were hampered by the scenario for roughly two to three hours.
Our journalist was informed by an insider at the airport that “planes couldn’t take off because passengers couldn’t enter the airport itself, but arrivals weren’t impacted either.”
After the disturbance ended at around eight in the morning, the gates were opened.
Amidst the chaos and cacophony, Sergeant Awuse, the Chairman of the Rivers State Council of traditional rulers, spoke to the women and assured them that he and the airport management team will personally visit to oversee the betterment and growth of their community.
In addition, he asked the airport manager to assemble a group of airport employees to accompany him on Friday into the town.
The women who had been protesting then retreated and the airport’s gates were unlocked.