Onilede Titi Faith
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA),has announced plans to publicly name and shame airlines that fail to comply with aviation regulations, particularly in cases of flight cancellations and delays.
The move was disclosed on Monday in a statement by NCAA’s publicist, Michael Achimugu, via his X handle.
According to the authority, passengers stranded between 10:00pm and 4:00am due to cancellations or delays are entitled to hotel accommodation at the airline’s expense a rule many operators have failed to observe.
The NCAA said the decision marks a tougher regulatory stance aimed at improving accountability and protecting passengers, following a series of outcries and recent violent incidents at airports linked to airlines’ lapses.
Achimugu condemned a trend where airline staff abandon passengers during disruptions, leaving NCAA Consumer Protection Officers to deal with angry crowds alone.
“The situation where airline staff intentionally disappear, leaving NCAA officers to handle justifiably irate and frustrated passengers will no longer be tolerated,” he said.
While acknowledging Nigeria’s difficult aviation environment, the NCAA stressed that challenges do not excuse negligence.
“Whoever ventures into this business must do it well. Don’t you want to be called world-class? Don’t you want to compete at the highest level? If not for the passengers who trust you, then at least for your own pride,” the statement read.
The authority also criticised the unnecessary risks faced by its staff, insisting that NCAA officials are present only to support both airlines and passengers.
As part of its enforcement drive, the NCAA pledged to apply the full weight of the law against defaulting carriers, adding that its decision followed a directive from the Federal Government and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
“In compliance with the directives from the Federal Government and the Honourable Minister of Aviation, the naming and shaming will commence.
The NCAA expects that operators must comply with regulations in the event of a disruption,” Achimugu stated.
