The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has started to enforce the implementation of passenger bill of rights which ensures that they are fully compensated whenever airlines compromise in their standard of service as contained in passenger bill of rights in the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulation (NCAR).
Also, the NCAA has enhanced Nigeria’s aviation security with the training of aviation security staff and representatives of all relevant security agencies working at the airport.
The agency said that in compliance with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations, it would be imposing fines of $170 and N10, 000 on foreign and local airlines respectively for delayed passengers’ luggage as a first measure.
It also stated that such delayed luggage must be delivered to the affected passenger on international routes within 21 days, while for local flights, it must be delivered within seven days.
NCAA records indicate that no fewer than 19,274 passengers’ luggage, across all airlines both foreign and local were declared delayed/missing in the first half of 2024.
The breakdown of the delayed/missing luggage showed that 18,955 passengers’ luggage were missing among the international airlines, while 319 were among the indigenous carriers.
The document however revealed that 17,365 luggage of international passengers were later recovered while the other 1,590 luggage remained unaccounted for.
For the domestic carriers, the entire 319 delayed/missing luggage were recovered and delivered to the affected passengers by the 13 domestic airline operators.
Reinforcing NCAA’s determination to enforce the compensation rule during a roadshow organised by the agency, the Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, NCAA, Mr. Michael Achimugu, assured travellers that the regulatory agency would implement the sanctions to the letter.
Achimugu regretted that for a very long time, most of the air travellers were unaware of their rights, which made the airlines continue to violate their rights.
He explained that with the roadshow, more travelling public would become aware of these rights and also the appropriate places to complain to.
“For way too long, Nigerians have been claiming not to know about the existence and the duties of the NCAA.
“Our duty, which is what we owe Nigerians, is to bring awareness to the industry. The passengers need to become more aware of their rights so that airlines will not continue to cheat them.
“The little things about the regulations that the passengers need to know, for instance, if you arrive at an airport and your luggage didn’t arrive with you, most passengers do not know that they have a right to demand compensation from the airlines.
“If it is a domestic flight, you can walk to the airline’s counter to demand for your N10,000 for not bringing your bag with you. For international flights, it is $170.
“A lot of passengers do not know this thing, but today, we are bringing an end to that circle of ignorance. We are bringing the regulations to Nigerians in an exciting manner.”
On the recently launched Consumer Complaints Portal by NCAA, Achimugu stressed that the portal had swelled the number of complaints from passengers, despite the teething challenges it faced at present.
He explained that the portal had put the airlines on their toes, maintaining that the regulatory agency would very soon go to the public on the effort the airlines put in place to resolve the complaints.
Apart from Lagos, the director pointed out that the roadshow and stakeholders’ summit would also take place in Abuja and Port Harcourt airports.
Meanwhile, the NCAA has enhanced Nigeria’s aviation security with the training of aviation security staff and representatives of all relevant security agencies working at the airport.
The two-week training took place in Abuja focused on Man-Portable Air-Defence Systems (MANPADS).
MANPADS are lightweight anti-aircraft weapons increasingly becoming dangerous to aviation globally.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Acting Director-General, Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Najomo, said participants have acquired some level of competence to deal with MANPADS which is a threat to both military and civil aviation.
By implementing mitigating measures, he said Nigeria would prevent catastrophic effects on both the national and global economy.
The concept of having a mixed class of various organisations he explained was deliberate to foster interagency collaboration and cooperation to achieve a common goal.
“We must work together if we are going to ensure a secure aviation sector,” he emphasised.
The Director of Aviation Security, NCAA, Dr. Omogo Bernard Onwe Chinedu, said Najomo identified gaps in aviation security and was deliberating and working to close them to enhance aviation security and safety in Nigeria.
Chinedu Eze and Kasim Sumaina
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