KEY POINTS

• NCAA summons 13 airlines over flight delays and cancellations.
• Airlines risk “naming and shaming” for breaching passenger obligations.
• The regulator pledges strict enforcement of aviation rules.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has summoned 13 domestic airlines to an emergency meeting over the mounting disruptions caused by widespread flight delays and cancellations across the country. The session, set for Wednesday at the NCAA headquarters in Abuja, was confirmed by Michael Achimugu, the authority’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, in a post on X.

The meeting comes as frustrations among travellers intensify and reports of unruly behaviour in Nigerian airports grow more frequent.

The NCAA has linked much of this unrest to airlines failing to comply with aviation standards, while also acknowledging that some passengers act out of ignorance of existing rules.

Flight delays and cancellations in focus

Achimugu said discussions will cover a wide set of issues, from persistent delays and cancellations to passenger welfare obligations and refund complaints. Safety rules such as the phone switch-off directive, as well as protections for both crew and NCAA officials, will also be reviewed. The agency is weighing the rollout of new measures, including RFID baggage tagging and real-time flight monitoring technology.

The regulator underscored that airlines must comply with Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Regulations, especially Part 19, which spells out responsibilities to passengers when flights are disrupted.

These include providing hotel accommodations for travelers stranded between 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. Achimugu warned that carriers found cutting corners could soon face public exposure through a “naming and shaming” campaign.

NCAA vows stricter enforcement measures

According to Punch, the NCAA has grown increasingly frustrated with airlines that cancel flights late at night without offering adequate support, a practice that leaves consumer protection officers to calm angry passengers at personal risk. “For infractions that are sanctionable, the Authority will apply the fullest measures possible,” Achimugu said, adding that the era of leniency is over.

Still, the agency acknowledged the difficult environment in which Nigerian carriers operate, but stressed operators must raise standards to be considered world-class.