The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has expressed deep concern over the growing number of flight delays and cancellations across the country.
Acting Director-General of NCAA, Chris Najomo, shared alarming statistics during a stakeholder meeting aimed at addressing these disruptions.
Najomo disclosed that in September 2024, a total of 5,291 domestic flights were operated, of which 2,434 were delayed and 79 were cancelled. The situation worsened in October, with 2,791 delays and 111 cancellations out of 5,513 flights.
The meeting, themed “Finding Lasting Solutions to Flight Disruptions”, brought together key stakeholders, including airlines’ CEOs, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku, and representatives from the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET). Air Peace Chairman Allen Onyema also participated.
Najomo highlighted mounting pressure from top government officials, stating, “The Senate President called me asking what are we doing about these disruptions. A lot has happened in the last one week.”
While acknowledging the challenges faced by airlines, Najomo emphasized the importance of upholding consumer rights. He reminded operators of the Nigeria Civil Aviation (Consumer Protection) Regulations, 2023 and urged them to professionally manage flight delays.
He also cautioned passengers against taking the law into their hands, warning that violent actions against airline employees or property would not be tolerated.
