Disabled Students’ Protest Brings Lagos Airport to a Standstill

Operations at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos were thrown into chaos on Monday as hundreds of physically challenged persons staged a mass protest over the closure of a government-run school for people with disabilities.

Carrying a banner of the Farmcraft Centre for the Blind, the demonstrators blocked major access roads to the airport, causing severe traffic gridlock that left passengers and staff stranded. Many travellers were forced to abandon their vehicles and trek long distances with their luggage to avoid missing flights.

According to the protesters, their action was aimed at drawing President Bola Tinubu’s attention to the plight of disabled students whose education has been halted for nearly two years due to the school’s closure. They claimed over 500 people had joined the protest, with more supporters arriving from various parts of Lagos. The group vowed to remain at the airport until the government gives a firm commitment to reopening the institution.

“You can see the blind and disabled people; they are angry. A lot of Nigerians see them as beggars, but now they have their own school, a school that gave them dignity, and it has been shut down without reason for almost two years,” said a protest leader identified simply as Mr. Dolor.

He explained that the school, located in Isheri with branches across the state, had been closed despite repeated appeals to both state and federal authorities through letters and delegations. “This is why we are here,” Dolor said. “We know not every message reaches the President, but this one, with the whole airport affected, will surely get to him.”

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Obiageli Orah, confirmed the disruption and urged travellers to plan accordingly.

“This is a travel advisory for passengers and commuters to/from Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos. Due to an ongoing protest by the Farmcraft Centre for the Blind, traffic congestion is currently impacting access roads to the airport,” the statement read.

FAAN apologised for the inconvenience and encouraged passengers to remain patient, seek alternative routes, and verify flight schedules with their airlines.