THE Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Chris Najomo, has called for a meeting with the Chief Executive Officers of airlines in response to ongoing flight delays and cancellations during the festive season.
The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, shared this information on his X account yesterday.
He noted that Najomo is cutting short a significant assignment to meet with all domestic airline CEOs today, emphasizing that this demonstrates the Authority’s commitment to addressing the issue.
Achimugu recounted his own experience while trying to catch a flight, where he encountered frustrated passengers who were threatening to become violent.
He engaged with them for about 20 minutes, assuring them he would check with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) regarding the weather conditions and clarified that the airline is not liable in cases of force majeure.
To alleviate passenger concerns, Achimugu insisted that the airline provide transportation back to the Central area and arranged accommodation at a nearby hotel, Peace Media Hotel, for several elderly passengers who appeared weak after the long wait.
The airline agreed to compensate passengers with 50 percent refunds and offered cash instead of rebates for those who preferred it.
He also encouraged passengers to scan the NCAA QR code for complaints and assured them they could contact him if the airline did not resolve their issues by the next morning.
Achimugu mentioned that just days earlier, the NCAA announced it would take action against five airlines, marking the first such enforcement by the Consumer Protection Department in over a decade.
He has also requested NiMET to send daily weather reports directly to his office to quickly verify any claims made by airlines regarding weather-related delays.
He shared that he even allocated part of his salary to assist some passengers awaiting refunds from a struggling airline, highlighting the humane approach of the NCAA under Capt. Najomo’s leadership.
Achimugu acknowledged that many disruptions are not caused by the airlines themselves and stressed the need for a holistic approach to solutions.
He commended Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo for his leadership in addressing capacity issues that have plagued the industry for years and noted efforts to enhance airport operations with instrument landing systems, which will help prevent airports from denying clearance to airlines after dark.
He called for patience, stating that while the industry won’t achieve perfection in a year, significant progress has already been made.
