NCAA Urged To Strengthen Passenger Protection Amid Rising Flight Delays
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has been urged to strengthen passenger protection regulations and enforce stricter oversight of domestic airlines following persistent flight delays and operational disruptions across the country.
The call was made by the Chief Executive Officer of U.S.-based aircraft brokerage firm Nigame, Olufemi Adeniji, who accused some indigenous airlines of disregarding passengers’ rights without adequate intervention from the aviation regulator.
Speaking in Lagos, Adeniji recounted his experience on May 13 when he was scheduled to travel from Lagos to Asaba aboard a United Nigeria Airlines flight slated for departure at 7:15 a.m. According to him, the flight eventually departed at about 10:15 p.m., resulting in a delay of nearly 15 hours.
He alleged that passengers received limited information throughout the delay and were subjected to poor communication and inadequate customer service.
Adeniji further claimed that the disruption was not limited to the Lagos-Asaba route, noting that flights to Port Harcourt, Kano, and other destinations reportedly experienced significant delays on the same day.
The aviation consultant said the prolonged delays had serious personal and economic consequences for passengers. He disclosed that the disruption prevented his children from attending their grandmother’s burial in Anambra State, while many other travellers reportedly missed important business engagements, family events, and other commitments.
He warned that recurring delays and cancellations continue to erode public confidence in Nigeria’s aviation industry and expose operational deficiencies among some domestic carriers.
“The scheduled passengers were left in a state of confusion and frustration without anyone properly attending to their concerns,” Adeniji said.
He stressed that airlines require adequate aircraft fleets and qualified personnel to operate efficiently, adding that poor scheduling and operational failures negatively impact passengers and businesses.
Adeniji called on the NCAA and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to investigate recurring flight disruptions and strengthen the enforcement of passenger rights.
Among the measures he proposed are mandatory penalties for flight delays exceeding two hours, compensation equivalent to at least 50 per cent of ticket fares through travel vouchers, hotel accommodation for passengers affected by delays beyond four hours, transportation assistance for stranded travellers, and compulsory rebooking of passengers on alternative airlines when disruptions occur.
He maintained that passengers deserve professionalism, transparency, accountability, and respect, stressing that meaningful improvements in the aviation sector would require both airlines and regulators to take operational failures more seriously.
The NCAA has yet to respond publicly to the allegations and recommendations.
