NCAA Approves eSIM Service For International Air Passengers
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has approved the introduction of an eSIM internet service designed to help Nigerian air passengers remain connected while travelling to international destinations.
The authority gave a “no objection” to the service, introduced by Univasa Nigeria Limited, following an assessment of the platform and feedback from users.
The initiative is expected to address persistent internet connectivity challenges faced by Nigerian travellers, particularly passengers who often struggle to access mobile data or communicate immediately after arriving in foreign countries.
Speaking at a UNIVASA-NCAA stakeholders’ engagement in Abuja on Wednesday, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, said the authority’s decision was driven by the need to improve passengers’ overall travel experience.
Achimugu said internet connectivity had remained a recurring challenge for international travellers, especially those who need to purchase data upon arrival in another country.
He explained that the NCAA was willing to support solutions that addressed identified challenges affecting passengers, in line with the Federal Government’s efforts to encourage local businesses providing practical solutions to Nigerians’ needs.
According to him, the authority’s position was straightforward: when a problem affecting passengers is identified, efforts should be made to provide a solution that would make air travel more convenient.
Achimugu also disclosed that the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, uses the service when travelling abroad, adding that some chief executives in the aviation industry also use it.
The NCAA’s Special Adviser to the Director-General, Ifueko Abdulmalik, said the authority was particularly interested in the service because of its potential impact on passenger experience.
She noted that travellers entering or leaving Nigeria frequently encounter difficulties accessing reliable internet connectivity, stressing that easier access to mobile data could improve communication and make movement in unfamiliar destinations more convenient.
“From the customer angle, we think that this would help passengers improve their travel experience,” she said.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Univasa Nigeria Limited, Ben Adeniyi, said the service was developed partly in response to the need for international travellers to remain connected as soon as they arrive in a new country.
Adeniyi said the company’s eSIM service provides internet connectivity across more than 150 countries and over 200 destinations.
He added that the company also offers a physical SIM, known as P-SIM, for passengers whose mobile devices do not support eSIM technology.
According to him, the growing need for travellers to maintain internet access is driven by the importance of staying in touch with family members and friends in Nigeria, as well as communicating with people at their destinations.
Adeniyi explained that the company’s pricing structure was made possible by its ability to purchase data in large volumes.
Also speaking, Vice President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and a partner with Univasa Nigeria Limited, Halimat Adediran, said the company had agreements with several telecommunications networks around the world.
She explained that the system could automatically switch between available networks where the quality of a particular network became inadequate, thereby helping users maintain connectivity.
Adediran added that the service could provide an alternative to travellers who would otherwise have to purchase local data plans or activate expensive international roaming services after arriving at their destinations.
The NCAA’s approval is expected to further expand connectivity options available to Nigerian international air passengers and contribute to a more seamless travel experience.
