The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced plans to enforce tougher sanctions against domestic airlines for repeated flight delays and inadequate passenger handling, warning that persistent inefficiencies in the sector will no longer be tolerated.

The announcement came on Thursday via the official X account of Michael Achimugu, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection. He stated:

"We will be pushing for stiffer penalties against domestic airlines for chronic delays. We have supported operators, defended them, explained issues on their behalf, and even faced criticism for doing so. While most flight disruptions are not caused by airlines, recent events justify heavier consequences for repeated inefficiencies."

Achimugu stressed that the significant support provided to airline operators by the government and aviation authorities should naturally translate into better service delivery.

"When an industry is supported as President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, SAN, the DGCA, Capt. Chris Najomo, and our Consumer Protection Department have done, the least we expect is a noticeable improvement in flight operations and related services," he said.

Acknowledging the challenges airlines face, Achimugu insisted that certain lapses are unacceptable.

"We understand the difficult operating environment, especially as the industry begins to benefit from policy improvements like the CTC Practice Direction, IDERA, and enhanced Consumer Protection awareness. However, some lapses cannot be excused."

He highlighted poor communication with passengers during flight disruptions as a major concern, noting that it has often escalated tensions at airports.

"Repeatedly, I have stressed the importance of airlines providing timely updates during delays and cancellations, and complying with HOTAC regulations and First Needs Compensation requirements," he said.

Mishandling passenger information, according to Achimugu, has contributed significantly to confrontations at airport terminals.

"The failure to manage information effectively, combined with inadequate passenger handling, is responsible for most of the passenger unrest we see at airports."

Citing international examples, he referenced a recent fine imposed on JetBlue in the United States, saying:

"Recently, US authorities fined JetBlue $2 million for chronic flight delays – the first sanction of its kind in that country."

He also indicated that aviation regulations may evolve to address emerging challenges in the industry.

"Regulations may need to adapt as new challenges arise, impacting the sector," Achimugu noted.

Reassuring both passengers and operators, he emphasized that the NCAA remains committed to fairness and accountability.

"The NCAA is committed to protecting the rights of all stakeholders. A review to strengthen the Authority’s enforcement capabilities for both passengers and operators is necessary," he added.

The announcement comes amid rising passenger complaints over delays in Nigeria’s aviation sector.

Statistics show domestic airlines operated 17,731 flights between July and September 2025, up from 15,989 flights during the same period in 2024. Flight cancellations dropped significantly to 80 in Q3 2025, compared with 251 in the previous year.

The past year has seen several high-profile disruptions: In April 2025, Air Peace temporarily suspended operations following a strike by Nigeria Meteorological Agency staff, stranding passengers at major airports, including Lagos and Abuja. In May, multiple Max Air flights from Kaduna and Kano were rescheduled late into the night without clear communication, sparking widespread complaints on social media. In June, United Nigeria Airlines faced backlash after a Lagos-Abuja flight was delayed by over 10 hours, with passengers reporting no official updates during the wait.