BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
A new vista in enhanced passenger right protection has been opened by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and it formally launched a Consumer Protection Portal.
The initiative signals a leap into safeguarding the rights of aviation passengers.
The event, held at the NCAA Training Hall in Lagos, was graced by key industry stakeholders, including the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, airline executives, and heads of aviation agencies.
In his address, the Acting Director General of the NCAA, Capt Chris Najomo, described the portal as a key achievement under the NCAA’s 2024 project, aligning with the Aviation Minister’s 5-point agenda and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope vision for Nigeria.
The portal, he added, aims to revolutionise consumer protection in the aviation sector, offering a streamlined, transparent platform for passengers to report grievances, access critical information, and monitor airline performance in real-time.
“Our commitment to the protection of consumer rights is unwavering.
“This portal is more than a digital tool, it is a symbol of our dedication to enforcing safety, security, economic fairness, and consumer protection across the aviation industry,” Najomo explained.
He noted that the Consumer Protection Portal was designed to empower passengers with easy access to information about their rights, tools to lodge complaints, and data on airline performance.
It ensures that airlines adhere to the regulatory requirements set out in Part 19 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, thus promoting transparency and accountability.
The acting DG commended the efforts of the NCAA’s 207 Consumer Protection Officers stationed at 23 airports across Nigeria for their round-the-clock dedication to ensuring passenger grievances are swiftly addressed.
“This portal represents a beacon of transparency. It will help create a fairer, more equitable marketplace where consumers can confidently engage with businesses, backed by regulatory support”, he added.
He further stated that with the launch, the regulatory body has set the stage for a new era of digital consumer protection, enhancing passengers’ experiences while strengthening the aviation sector’s regulatory framework.
The Ag. DG urged all stakeholders to spread the word about the portal and ensure that every aviation consumer in Nigeria is aware of the vital resource and uses it for the purpose for which it was designed.
He emphasised that the NCAA Consumer Protection Portal is now live, marking a major shift in the digital transformation journey of the country’s aviation sector.
