The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has summoned 13 domestic carriers to an emergency meeting following widespread complaints over persistent flight delays and cancellations disrupting air travel across the country.
The meeting, slated for Wednesday at NCAA headquarters in Abuja, was announced by the agency’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, via his X handle on Tuesday.
The move comes amid mounting passenger frustration and a surge in unruly behaviour at airports—incidents the NCAA partly attributes to airlines’ failure to comply with aviation regulations.
According to the authority, while some disruptions stem from passengers’ lack of awareness about aviation rules, others are the direct result of airlines circumventing regulations and denying passengers their rights.
Achimugu revealed that discussions will focus on several urgent issues: recurring delays and cancellations, passenger handling standards, unresolved refund and compensation claims, enforcement of safety protocols such as phone switch-off directives, and enhanced protection for cabin crew and NCAA officials. The agenda also includes the rollout of RFID baggage tagging and real-time flight monitoring technology.
This intervention follows the NCAA’s fresh reminder—issued less than 24 hours earlier—that airlines must comply with Part 19 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations, which requires, among other measures, providing hotel accommodation for stranded passengers between 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m.
The regulator has also vowed to begin “naming and shaming” operators that consistently flout the rules, particularly those that cancel or delay flights without offering proper support to affected passengers.
Achimugu expressed concern over airlines abandoning travelers late at night without welfare arrangements, leaving NCAA consumer officers to manage crowds of agitated passengers—an approach he said puts officials at unnecessary risk.
“The era of leniency is over,” he warned. “For infractions that are sanctionable, the Authority will apply the fullest measures possible. We will not abandon the letters of our regulations.”
He added that while the NCAA recognises the operational difficulties confronting domestic airlines, carriers must still meet regulatory standards if they intend to be seen as world-class operators.
