BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
With the Christmas and new year festivities on the horizon, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has assured travelers of uninterrupted and seamless flight operations.
The assurance was given during a Road Show and Enlightenment Campaign organised by NCAA’s Consumer Protection Department at Port Harcourt International Airport on Wednesday.
The campaign sought to educate air passengers on their rights and the proper procedures for filing complaints about disruptions.
The Director of Consumer Protection and Public Affairs, NCAA, Michael Achimugu, emphasised the authority’s commitment to ensuring smooth air travel during the high-demand period.
He said: “We are now in the high travel season in the aviation sector. There has been a lot of flight disruptions over the years, and our duty is to sensitize passengers. Many complaints arise from a lack of awareness about their rights and responsibilities as air travelers.”
Achimugu highlighted that the NCAA plays a dual role in protecting passengers and supporting airlines.
“Our goal is to safeguard the interests of both parties because they are our stakeholders. We cannot blame passengers for what they don’t know, which is why we are creating mass awareness. Passengers must understand that NCAA is the right channel for reporting air travel issues,” he added.
The NCAA also announced an increase in fleet capacity across airlines operating in Nigeria, following the signing of the Cape Town Convention Practice Direction by the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, and the Director General of Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Najomo.
“There will be no disruptions this festive season. Thanks to the Minister’s recent approval, 10 new aircraft have been added to the fleet, distributed across airlines like Ibom Air, Air Peace, and United Nigeria. This expansion addresses the capacity challenges we’ve faced in the past and will significantly reduce disruptions”, he added.
He noted that Nigeria is setting global standards in resolving airline-passenger disputes, particularly in cases of refunds.
“We are one of the few countries worldwide where airlines are mandated to offer a 100% refund without charges for disruptions,” Achimugu said, describing it as a landmark achievement for the nation’s aviation sector.
In addition to the airport sensitization campaign, NCAA organized a town hall meeting in Port Harcourt, themed: “Repositioning the Nigerian Aviation Industry for Operational Efficiency, Service Excellence, and Economic Viability: A Renewed and Inclusive Regulatory Dialogue.”
The meeting, held at La Kings Event Centre, brought together industry stakeholders, including filmmaker and actress Hilda Dokubo, legal practitioner First Baba Isa, Utibe Umoren of DAAR Communications, and representatives from the Nigeria Immigration Services.
Speakers at the event emphasised the importance of collaboration between regulatory authorities, airlines, and passengers in achieving a world-class aviation sector.
Through these initiatives, stakeholders say the aviation industry regulator the NCAA would foster operational efficiency, service excellence and greater economic viability within Nigeria’s aviation industry.
