Chaos In The Skies: NCAA Drags Airlines Over Endless Delays And Furious Passengers

The Federal Government, through the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has summoned all domestic airlines to an emergency meeting in Abuja, following widespread flight disruptions and an upsurge in unruly passenger incidents.

The meeting, set for Wednesday at the NCAA headquarters, was confirmed in a statement by the agency’s Director of Public Relations and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, via his official handle on Tuesday.

Achimugu explained that the discussions will tackle key concerns in the aviation sector, including rising cases of disorderly passenger behaviour, poor handling protocols, unresolved refund and compensation issues, as well as other challenges affecting airlines and travellers.

This development comes just a day after Achimugu warned that the NCAA had been directed by the Federal Government to begin “naming and shaming” airlines notorious for delays and cancellations. He stressed that the authority will no longer condone repeated disruptions that inconvenience passengers, promising that sanctions would be imposed on erring carriers.

Nigeria’s aviation sector has come under heavy public criticism in recent months over frequent cancellations, poor communication from operators, and inadequate compensation for affected travellers. These issues have triggered protests at airports, with some incidents escalating into heated confrontations between passengers and airline staff.

By convening the emergency session, the NCAA says it hopes to tighten compliance with consumer protection rules and restore public confidence in the nation’s air travel system.