The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has summoned all domestic airlines to a meeting scheduled for Wednesday at its Abuja headquarters, to address growing concerns about passenger welfare and flight disruptions.
The announcement was made by NCAA’s Director of Public Relations and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, in a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday.
According to Achimugu, the agenda includes:
- Unruly passenger behaviour and handling protocols
- Unresolved refund and compensation issues
- Introduction of RFID bag tags and flight monitoring technology
- Enforcement of phone switch-off instructions and cabin crew protection
- Measures to improve the overall passenger travel experience
The meeting follows NCAA’s recent declaration that it has the mandate of the Federal Government to begin “naming and shaming” airlines that cancel or delay flights—especially at odd hours—without providing adequate passenger comfort as required by Part 19 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations.
Achimugu stressed that airlines have a duty to provide hotel accommodation for passengers stranded between 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. due to cancellations. He criticised operators for leaving NCAA consumer protection officers to deal with frustrated passengers when airline staff disappear.
“While one understands the challenges that operators face in our peculiar operating environment, whoever willfully ventures into a business and wants to remain in it must do it well,” he said.
“Don’t you want to be called ‘world class’? Don’t you want to compete at the highest level? If not for the sake of the passengers who trust you, what about for your own pride?”
The NCAA said the new measures, including technology upgrades and stricter enforcement, are designed to enhance accountability and strengthen consumer protection in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
