*The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority directs pilots to fly only after safety issues are resolved amicably, or any unruly passengers are removed by the security from the aircraft in the country’s aviation sector

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

Against the backdrop of increasing air traveller-induced safety concerns in the sector, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has directed pilots to not fly with unruly passengers on board any longer.

绿帽献妻 reports the NCAA said the latest decision of the aviation regulator would strengthen safety and instill more discipline in the aviation sector of the economy.

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Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at NCAA, announced this safety measure Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at a meeting with all domestic airlines, in Abuja, FCT.

Achimugu said the pilot would only be allowed to fly after the issues are resolved amicably, or the unruly passengers are removed by security from the aircraft.

He also said: 鈥淧ilots must not fly the plane until unruly passengers are removed from the aircraft by security or the issue is resolved amicably.

“This will go a long way to protect cabin crew and make passengers treat them courteously.”

The NCAA Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection stated: 鈥淐ases are overblown because the pilot in command did not take charge.

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“Going forward, no passenger has the right to touch any cabin crew.鈥�

On cabin crew and professionalism

Underscoring the importance of adhering to aviation rules and professional ethics,

Achimugu, however, warned cabin crew to be professional in discharging their duties.

He asserted: 鈥淐abin crew should not be rude, and passengers should not misconstrue firmness of cabin crew as rudeness.

鈥淪tarting from next week, the NCAA is going to be placing this caveat at various terminals, warning passengers about the ramifications should they not only physically assault, but even verbally assault airline staff in every terminal.

鈥淲e will protect whoever needs to be protected based on the merits of each case that comes to the NCAA.”

Achimugu said: “We are not happy about recent events in the industry, even though it鈥檚 not like it is new.

“There鈥檚 been so much negative press about these things, a lot of passengers are not well-educated about their responsibilities, and there鈥檚 too much of an obsession with rights and nothing about their responsibilities.”

He averred: 鈥淲e want to make sure that this situation changes, but while we are at it, and we are insisting that airlines retrain their cabin and flight crews, we must also protect the rights of these people.

“In doing the honest work that they are doing, they must also be treated with dignity and courtesy.”

The top executive of NCAA, stated: “Paying for a service doesn鈥檛 give you the right to hit people, and paying for a service doesn鈥檛 give you the right to be unruly.

鈥淲e cannot afford chaos in the industry at this moment, and that鈥檚 why we are doing everything we can to tidy up the system.

“This is why we are having this meeting today, to both take a stand with the airlines where we ought to support their businesses, but also ensure that they also do their duties to the customers, who pay high airfares.鈥�

Mrs. Ifueko Abdulmalik, Senior Special Assistant to the Director-General of the NCAA, warned that the NCAA will sanction airlines over failure to notify and offer care to passengers when flights are delayed or cancelled.

Martin Abhulimen, Regional Manager, Lagos/West Africa of Ibom Air,聽 recounted the recent experience a ground staff member of the airline had with a passenger Tuesday this week.

He said: 鈥淲hat happened yesterday (Tuesday) was unpleasant.

“There was a passenger who came 19 minutes before the flight.

“The flight was almost done boarding and then, the passenger chose to kneel down to beg the customer service agent, even after she was politely informed that the counter was closed and they could not take any other passenger at that time.

“And because the check-in personnel could not assist her, she got upset and took the keyboard of the computer and smashed it three times on the head of the check-in agent.”

Abhulimen said: 鈥淏ecause of obvious reasons, the check-in agent did nothing.

“We called the NCAA, we called the Aviation Security officials, and even the police who were within the terminal.

“They appealed to the passenger for more than 30 minutes, even with the aggravated assault on our staff, until the DPO of the Police station came to appeal to her.”

He further related: 鈥淭he passenger was handled decently and taken to the Police station.

“It was only when she got to the Police station and realised that she was about to get into big trouble that she started apologising.鈥�

Airlines request protection for ground staff

The Regional Manager, Lagos/West Africa of Ib峄峮 Air, therefore, urged the NCAA to extend the protection rights to ground staff, because they are the first set of people that passengers meet.

Sylvia Ohuanyere, Duty Manager at Green Africa in Abuja, also said: 鈥淭he ground staff need a lot of protection, because we are the most affected by the poor behaviour of passengers, and it has a psychological effect on us.

鈥淎 passenger has gone beyond insulting me to cursing my children just because of delayed flights.

“Passengers become unruly when you don鈥檛 yield to their demands.鈥�

Aisha Allanso-Ahumareze, Customer Experience Manager at Rano Air, who said the airlines understand the frustration of passengers, added that most flight delays are due to safety reasons.

Allanso-Ahumareze said: 鈥淲e understand they鈥檙e frustrated, but at the end of the day, safety is paramount, not just for the passengers, but for our crew and our ground staff as well.

“Airlines lose a lot of money when they reschedule flights or cancel flights. So the fact that we do this is for the safety of everybody concerned.

鈥淲e鈥檙e pleading on behalf of the airlines that the passengers should please take things easy, and the NCAA should please be more understanding and more considerate of the airlines.

Representatives of airlines present at the meeting include: Arik, Ibom, Aero, United Nigeria, Green Africa, Max Air, Rano Air, ValueJet, Air Peace, and Overland.

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