Several passengers were left stranded on Wednesday, March 27th, 2024, as movements of major flights were disrupted at the Port Harcourt International Airport over the ongoing protest by the dwellers of Omagwa and Ipo communities in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The communities host the international airport, and residents turned up in huge numbers to barricade the entrance to the Airport, protesting a lack of power supply and other social amenities.
The protest caused a huge gridlock stretching from the airport road to adjoining communities.
The protesters were out as early as 7 in the morning on Wednesday and lamented the many sufferings and hardships they have been subjected to from the airport being in their community and with little to no positive impact to show for it. They mentioned noise pollution, absence of good schools in their communities and that they have never received any form of compensation since construction of the airport.
One of the protesters accused the airport authorities of neglect, saying that his community has not had electricity supply for ten years. He said “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.”
