House Committee, NCAA Move To Strengthen Aviation Regulation, Consumer Protection

The House Committee on Delegated Legislation of the National Assembly has called for stronger regulatory mechanisms in Nigeria’s aviation sector to improve compliance, consumer protection and the effectiveness of delegated legislation.

The committee made the call during a recent visit to the Corporate Headquarters of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in Abuja, where lawmakers engaged the aviation regulator on regulatory oversight, legislative reforms, airline compliance and passenger welfare.

Welcoming the delegation, the Director General of Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Najomo, stressed the need for sustained collaboration between the NCAA and the National Assembly to ensure that Nigeria’s aviation regulatory framework remains effective, responsive and aligned with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.

Najomo noted that the Civil Aviation Act 2022, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCAR) 2023 and other regulatory instruments provide the legal and technical framework for the NCAA’s responsibilities in aviation safety, security, economic regulation and consumer protection.

Chairman of the committee, Hon. Olufemi Richard Bamishile, said the visit was aimed at giving lawmakers a deeper understanding of the NCAA’s rule-making and regulatory processes while fostering stronger cooperation between both institutions.

Bamishile expressed concern over outstanding statutory remittances owed by airlines and advocated legislative amendments that would enable the immediate deduction and remittance of funds due to the NCAA.

According to him, an improved statutory collection mechanism would strengthen the authority’s funding and enhance its ability to effectively carry out its regulatory and oversight functions.

Also, a member of the committee, Hon. Rufus Adeniyi Ojuawo, sought explanations on the persistent cases of flight delays and cancellations, as well as measures being taken by airlines and the regulator to reduce operational disruptions.

Responding on behalf of the DGCA, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, attributed some previous disruptions to inadequate aircraft capacity.

Achimugu explained that when an airline deploys a single aircraft across multiple routes, the unavailability of the aircraft could trigger disruptions across several destinations, affecting a large number of passengers.

He, however, disclosed that airlines were increasingly improving their capacity through dry-lease arrangements.

He added that the NCAA was also developing a system that would enable passengers affected by cancellations or prolonged delays to be rebooked on alternative airlines.

The initiative, he said, is expected to minimise the impact of operational disruptions on passengers and strengthen consumer protection within Nigeria’s aviation sector.