Sowore Accuses Airline, NCAA Of Neglecting Stranded Passengers Over Flight Delay

The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has criticised domestic airline operators and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) over what he described as poor treatment of passengers affected by prolonged flight delays.

Sowore raised the concerns following an encounter with passengers scheduled to travel from Lagos to Owerri on United Nigeria Airlines, who he said were left stranded at the airport for several hours without adequate information or support.

In a statement shared on his official platform, the AAC candidate alleged that some passengers spent more than 11 hours waiting after repeated postponements of their departure time by the airline.

“Yesterday, I met several passengers scheduled to travel from Lagos to Owerri on United Nigeria Airlines. They had been abandoned to their fate after spending the entire day at the airport,” Sowore said.

He claimed that the airline failed to provide clear explanations for the delays or adequate assistance to affected travellers, describing the situation as a reflection of wider challenges within Nigeria’s aviation sector.

Sowore also faulted the regulatory role of the NCAA, accusing the authority of failing to effectively address recurring complaints about poor passenger service by domestic carriers.

“Although we had a cordial interaction, that does not prevent us from once again stating the obvious: Nigeria’s aviation regulators, especially the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, have failed in their responsibility to rein in the irresponsible conduct of domestic airlines,” he stated.

He alleged that flight delays had become common among some airlines, while communication with passengers remained inadequate.

According to him, travellers are often left frustrated due to poor customer relations and lack of timely updates during disruptions.

“What is even more disturbing is that many of these airlines simply do not care. Delays have become routine, poor communication has become standard practice, and passengers are treated as though their time, comfort, and dignity have no value,” Sowore added.

He called for stronger regulatory oversight and improved standards of service delivery in the domestic aviation sector to protect passengers’ rights.