As frustration mounts among travelers this festive season, the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Chris Najomo, has urgently called a meeting with Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of domestic airlines to address the ongoing issue of widespread flight delays and cancellations.
The call for action came after a wave of public outrage directed at Nigerian airlines, as passengers faced long waits, missed connections, and in some cases, violent confrontations due to flight disruptions. Michael Achimugu, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at NCAA, revealed the development through a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on December 26, 2024.
“Cutting short an important assignment, DG Chris Najomo has scheduled a meeting with airline CEOs this Friday to address passenger concerns and ensure better service during this busy period,” Achimugu said, noting that the NCAA was taking immediate steps to address the mounting problems.
The frustration among passengers, particularly during the peak holiday season, has been palpable. Achimugu himself witnessed the chaos firsthand during his recent travel experience, which he described as a tense and heated encounter with stranded passengers at an airport.
“I was at the airport trying to board a flight myself when I encountered irate passengers, some of whom were on the verge of becoming violent. I stepped in and personally addressed the situation,” Achimugu explained. “I spent about 20 minutes engaging with them, assuring them that I would verify if weather conditions were truly the cause of the delays by consulting the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET). I also clarified that the airline is not liable for delays due to ‘force majeure,’ but that I would ensure they were taken care of.”
In a bid to provide immediate relief to the passengers, Achimugu took steps beyond mere explanation. He insisted that the airline arrange transportation for the affected passengers back to the Central area, and personally funded nearby accommodation for elderly passengers who appeared too weak after the prolonged wait.
“I also ensured that the airline agreed to pay 50 percent compensation to the passengers who were willing to accept it. Those who preferred a refund were also accommodated,” Achimugu added. “I even allowed passengers to redeem the compensation in cash if they chose to, and I made sure they had access to the NCAA’s complaint system via QR codes to file grievances directly with us.”
This incident, though swiftly addressed, is just one example of the ongoing crisis in Nigeria’s aviation sector. The NCAA has long struggled to balance the demands of airlines, passengers, and external factors such as weather. However, the regulatory body is clearly stepping up its efforts to hold airlines accountable, especially after it announced a major crackdown on five domestic carriers just a few days ago. This action marks a rare enforcement measure by the NCAA’s Consumer Protection Department, the first of its kind in over a decade.
The authorities are also taking proactive steps to prevent such disruptions from continuing. Achimugu shared that he has written to NiMET to request that daily weather reports be sent directly to the NCAA, allowing them to swiftly verify whether airlines are justifiably citing weather issues as the cause of delays.
In a particularly revealing comment, Achimugu admitted that he had personally contributed from his own salary to help refund some passengers stranded by a specific airline in dire financial straits. “It wasn’t my responsibility, but it was the humane thing to do,” he said. “This is the kind of leadership Capt. Chris Najomo is promoting at the NCAA.”
Despite the many challenges faced by the aviation sector, Achimugu stressed that some of the disruptions were beyond the control of airlines. “A lot of disruptions are not caused by the airlines themselves. The solution must be comprehensive,” he said, praising the leadership of the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, for his recent initiatives to address the long-standing problems in the industry.
“Minister Keyamo has made significant strides in tackling the capacity issues that have plagued the industry for years. His efforts to introduce instrument landing systems at sunset airports, for instance, will prevent airports from refusing to clear flights after dark. These changes are bringing the aviation industry out of its long period of stagnation,” Achimugu noted.
Though progress is visible, Achimugu urged patience as the sector continues to recover. “The industry won’t transform overnight, but there has been substantial improvement in the last year. The NCAA, under Capt. Najomo, is committed to making the necessary changes to improve air travel for Nigerians,” he emphasized.
As the holiday season nears its end, travelers are hoping that the meeting between the NCAA DG and the airline CEOs will lead to tangible improvements. With the Christmas and New Year rush already causing major disruptions, passengers are eager to see concrete solutions implemented to prevent further delays and cancellations in the future. The upcoming discussions are expected to focus on operational transparency, better communication with passengers, and more reliable service.
For now, passengers across Nigeria are holding their breath, awaiting the outcome of these crucial talks. The NCAA’s bold intervention signals a shift in the way the sector is regulated, and its commitment to ensuring that Nigeria’s aviation industry operates at a level that meets international standards.
