NCAA, House Committee seek stronger oversight, measures to curb flight disruptions
Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority NCAA
Abdullateef Fowewe
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has hosted the House Committee on Delegated Legislation of the National Assembly on a familiarisation visit focused on aviation regulation, legislative oversight and consumer protection.
This was made known in a statement obtained from the NCAA on Thursday.
The visit took place on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at the NCAA’s corporate headquarters in Abuja.
Welcoming the committee, the Director General of Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Najomo, called for sustained engagement between the NCAA and the National Assembly to ensure that Nigeria’s aviation regulations remain responsive and aligned with International Civil Aviation Organization standards.
Najomo said the Civil Aviation Act 2022, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations 2023 and other regulatory instruments provide the legal framework for the NCAA’s responsibilities in aviation safety, security, economic regulation and consumer protection.
“There is a need for continued engagement with the National Assembly to ensure Nigeria’s aviation regulations remain responsive and consistent with International Civil Aviation Organization standards,” he said.
The Chairman of the committee, Rt. Hon. Olufemi Richard Bamishile, described the visit as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation between the legislature and the aviation regulator while gaining a better understanding of the NCAA’s rule-making process.
Bamishile also expressed concern over outstanding statutory remittances owed by airlines.
He called for amendments that would allow the immediate deduction and remittance of applicable funds to the NCAA.
A committee member, Hon. Rufus Adeniyi Ojuawo, sought explanations on the recurring delays and cancellations of flights, as well as measures being taken to prevent their recurrence.
Responding on behalf of the NCAA, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, attributed previous disruptions partly to inadequate aircraft capacity.
He explained that the unavailability of one aircraft could affect passengers on several routes when the same aircraft was being used to serve multiple destinations.
“Inadequate aircraft capacity had previously worsened disruptions, as one aircraft serving several routes could leave passengers stranded when unavailable,” Achimugu said.
He added that more aircraft were being introduced through dry-lease arrangements. According to him, the NCAA was also developing a system that would enable affected passengers to be rebooked on other airlines during disruptions.
On the proposed legislative amendments, the Director of Legal Services, Mary Tufano-Eche, said the review of the Civil Aviation Act had reached its final stages in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice.
She said the proposed review would be further updated before being presented to the National Assembly.
The meeting ended with the NCAA and the committee agreeing to sustain engagement on delegated legislation, regulatory reforms and measures aimed at improving passenger protection in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
