“Take your responsibilities as seriously as your rights,” NCAA urges air passengers
Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority NCAA
Abdullateef Fowewe
Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs & Consumer Protection at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has called on air passengers to recognise their responsibilities alongside their rights, emphasising balanced accountability in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
Achimugu highlighted common passenger oversights that disrupt operations, stressing that travel documents must be in order before boarding.
“It is your responsibility to ensure that your travel documents are in order. Any problem you run into with immigration abroad is on you, not the airline,” he wrote.
“Airlines are penalized heavily when they fly in inadmissible passengers.”
He addressed flight delays and no-shows directly, “If you are late for your flight, you are a no-show. Simply pay the penalty, reschedule your flight, and return home, or, book another flight on another airline and proceed. There is no sentiment in dealing with this.”
Achimugu also condemned violence against airline and airport staff, noting it achieves nothing.
“The airline/airport staff that you beat up in the terminals have NO SAY in the disruption of your flight. Beating them serves no purpose,” he stated.
Instead, he urged passengers to report grievances formally, “If you feel aggrieved, report to the NCAA, and we will interpret the regulations and make a determination on the case. Rest assured that your rights will be protected.”
The director reminded that airlines deserve protection too, with no room for sentiment in enforcing regulations and international conventions.
He concluded on a collaborative note, “Air passengers need to start understanding that they have RESPONSIBILITIES too, not just RIGHTS. All stakeholders have a role to play if we must attain the world class standards we all seek for the aviation industry. We are parts of the solution.”
This comes amid ongoing tensions in Nigeria’s aviation industry, where passenger complaints about delays and service have frequently escalated.
