Nigeria’s aviation regulator has signalled a tougher stance against domestic airlines over recurring flight delays and poor passenger handling, warning that repeated inefficiencies will no longer be overlooked.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority disclosed this in a statement shared by its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, who said the regulator would push for stiffer penalties where airlines consistently fail to meet operational and consumer protection standards. He noted that while airlines have enjoyed sustained regulatory and policy support, this must now be matched with visible improvements in service delivery.
According to the NCAA, most flight disruptions are not always caused by airlines, but recent incidents across the sector have made it necessary to impose heavier consequences where inefficiencies are persistent. The regulator said the level of backing provided by the Federal Government and aviation authorities should translate into better flight operations and improved treatment of passengers.
While acknowledging the difficult operating environment faced by local carriers, the authority stressed that certain lapses can no longer be justified. It said ongoing policy reforms and consumer protection measures are designed to stabilise the industry, but airlines must also uphold their responsibilities to passengers.
A major concern raised by the regulator is poor communication during delays and cancellations. The NCAA said repeated failures by airlines to properly inform and manage passengers have fuelled tensions at airport terminals, with misinformation and silence during disruptions often escalating into confrontations.
The authority pointed to international precedent to support its position, citing a recent fine imposed on a US airline for chronic delays as an example of how regulators elsewhere are responding to similar challenges. It added that aviation regulations may continue to evolve as new operational risks and consumer issues emerge.
The NCAA reiterated its commitment to fairness and accountability, stating that any regulatory review would aim to strengthen compliance enforcement for both operators and passengers, while protecting the rights of all stakeholders in the aviation ecosystem.
The warning comes amid rising passenger complaints over delays, despite improvements in some performance indicators. Domestic airlines operated 17,731 flights between July and September 2025, up from 15,989 flights in the same period of 2024, while cancellations dropped sharply to 80 flights from 251 a year earlier.
However, several high-profile disruptions in 2025 have kept public attention on service reliability. A temporary suspension of flights earlier in the year following industrial action disrupted operations at major airports, while multiple complaints were recorded over long delays on some domestic routes, often accompanied by limited or unclear communication from airlines.
For business travellers and small enterprises that depend on domestic air travel for meetings, supply coordination and client engagement, the NCAA’s planned sanctions signal a push for greater reliability and accountability in the sector. The regulator says improved discipline among operators is essential to restoring passenger confidence and supporting the broader role of aviation in Nigeria’s economic activity.
