JUST IN: Protest by Physically Challenged Persons Over School Closure Grounds Lagos Airport Roads

Traffic and activities around the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, were brought to a standstill on Monday as hundreds of physically challenged persons staged a protest against the closure of a government-owned school for people with disabilities.

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

The protesters said they were seeking President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in the reopening of their school, which has been shut for nearly two years, halting the education of disabled students. They claimed more than 500 participants had already joined the protest, with others arriving from across Lagos.

Vowing to remain at the airport until a concrete government response was received, protest leader Mr. Dolor said repeated appeals to state and federal authorities—through letters and delegations—had gone unanswered.

“You can see the blind and disabled people; they are angry. Many Nigerians see them as beggars, but this school gave them dignity. Now it has been shut down without explanation for almost two years,” Dolor said, adding that the institution, located in Isheri, has branches in other parts of the state.

He expressed hope that the disruption to airport operations would ensure their message reached the President.

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In a travel advisory, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), through its spokesperson Obiageli Orah, confirmed that the protest was causing traffic congestion on the airport’s access roads. FAAN advised commuters to use alternative routes and urged passengers to confirm their flight schedules with their airlines.

The authority apologised for the inconvenience and called for patience as the situation unfolded.