The Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, called for an urgent meeting with Chief Executive Officers of domestic airlines to address ongoing issues of flight delays and cancellations during the festive season.
The NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, disclosed this on Thursday via his X handle, highlighting the authority’s commitment to passenger welfare.
Achimugu revealed that Najomo interrupted an important assignment to convene the meeting, scheduled for Friday, as a testament to the agency’s concern for passengers.
He also recounted his personal experience dealing with frustrated passengers at the airport.
“I walked into the scene while trying to catch a flight myself.
Passengers were visibly angry and threatened violence.
I spent about 20 minutes addressing them, explaining that I would confirm from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) if weather conditions were responsible.
I also clarified that airlines are not liable for delays caused by force majeure,” he stated.
Achimugu said he took immediate steps to alleviate the passenger’s frustration.
“I insisted the airline provide transportation back to the central area for all passengers.
I personally paid for accommodation at a nearby hotel for some elderly passengers who were visibly weak after the prolonged wait.
Additionally, the airline agreed to provide 50% compensation and refunds for those who requested them,” he added.
Achimugu also encouraged passengers to use the NCAA’s complaint platform, sharing a QR code to facilitate the process.
Highlighting recent enforcement actions, Achimugu noted that the NCAA had taken steps against five airlines for non-compliance, marking the first such measures by the Consumer Protection Department in over a decade.
In efforts to improve transparency, he revealed plans to receive daily weather reports directly from NiMET to verify airline claims regarding weather disruptions.
Achimugu praised the leadership of Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation, for addressing longstanding capacity challenges in the aviation sector.
“Keyamo has been instrumental in implementing reforms, including equipping sunset airports with Instrument Landing Systems, ensuring operations after dark.
The industry will not be perfect in a year, but significant progress has been made,” he said.
The NCAA has reassured passengers of its commitment to holistic solutions for improving aviation services, with Friday’s meeting expected to be a crucial step in addressing the current challenges.
