The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has revealed plans to publicly identify airlines that violate aviation regulations, particularly those frequently responsible for flight cancellations and delays.
This move follows a directive from the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and is aimed at enforcing stricter compliance within the industry. Michael Achimugu, the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, made the announcement on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, @mikeachimugu01, on Monday, September 8.
He emphasised that airlines have a duty to provide hotel accommodation for passengers stranded between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. due to delayed or cancelled flights. The post reads: “If an airline has kept passengers at the terminal up to 00hrs before cancelling a flight, they owe their passengers hotel accommodation. The regulations stipulate that passengers stranded between the hours of 2200 and 0400 be given accommodation."
He also criticised the practice of airline staff abandoning passengers during disruptions, leaving NCAA consumer protection officers to deal with the resulting frustration and confusion.
The NCAA spokesperson said that while operational challenges exist, businesses that choose to operate in this space must meet basic obligations. Achimugu stressed that the NCAA will begin enforcing regulatory penalties more strictly and will not overlook violations. He warned that the authority would fully apply all sanctions available under existing rules.
He added: “The federal government has instructed that airlines be named and shamed by the NCAA. While we have done our best to advise per solutions to flight disruptions and why not nearly all cases are the fault of the airlines, the NCAA expects that operators must comply with the regulations in the event of a disruption.”
The NCAA has confirmed that the naming and shaming of non-compliant airlines will begin in line with the directives of the federal government and the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
If an airline has kept passengers at the terminal up to 00hrs before cancelling a flight, they OWE their passengers hotel accommodation. The regulations stipulate that passengers stranded between the hours of 2200 and 0400 be given accommodation.
— Michael Achimugu (@mikeachimugu01) September 8, 2025
The situation where airline…
