Protesting Women Shut Down PH Airport

Hundreds of Women from Ipo Community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, on Wednesday, shut down operations at the Port Harcourt International Airport over alleged neglect of their community by relevant authorities.
The protesting women in their huge number took over the gates of the airport as early as 5:30am and padlocked them, without letting anyone into the airport, The Tide can authoritatively report.
All the vehicles that were supposed to go into the airport, and those that wanted to board flight for their journey were all stranded at the main gate of the airport, which caused a gridlock within the area.
The protesters insisted that they would not leave or open the gate, until the Rivers State Governor comes to address them.
They turned their backs against the police and other security agencies that came to intervene, including the Airport Manager, Micheal Arewa, insisting that they would not listen to anybody until the governor comes.
The women alleged that Ipo, which is one of the host communities of the airport, was neglected by both the federal and state governments.
According to them, the community is suffering from poor communication network, unemployment and lack of electricity for seven years, in addition to dilapidated schools in the area.
It took the intervention of the Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, Chief Sergeant Awuse who arrived at the Airport around 11.15am, to represent the state governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, before the protesting women dispersed.
Meanwhile, one of the Chiefs of Ipo community, High Chief Precious Tobechukwu, who arrived the scene told aviation correspondents that the women were right in their protest, because the community had long suffered so many things which other communities are enjoying.
“As we speak, every employment is done at the headquarters of the Federal Airports Authority, and our people here are neglected.
“There is no upstairs in this community, even when you have money to build, because of flights operations. Right from the inception of GSM in Nigeria, there is no network in Ipo, even the mast built by Glo was pulled down by the Federal Ministry of Aviation, and our schools have been neglected.
“We have written to both the Federal Ministry of Aviation, and FAAN severally, but nothing is being done, and that is why this protest is necessary”, Tobechukwu said.

By: Corlins Walter