The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) have been called out by Nigame Olufemi Adeniji, CEO of a US-based aircraft brokerage, to tighten passenger protections and increase regulatory oversight after repeated operational failures by domestic carriers.
He called out the aviation regulator during an interview in Lagos noting that he and other travelers were left stranded at Lagos airport for nearly 15 hours when a United Nigeria Airlines flight to Asaba, scheduled to depart at 7:15 a.m. on May 13, did not leave until about 10:15 p.m.
Passengers received scant information and poor customer service as to the reason behind the delay, and Adeniji said flights to other destinations, including Port Harcourt and Kano, also experienced major disruptions that day.
The lengthy delay prevented his children from attending their grandmother’s burial in Anambra State and caused many other passengers to miss important business meetings and personal commitments. He warned that persistent delays and cancellations are undermining public confidence in Nigeria’s aviation industry and called on the NCAA to take stronger action to protect travelers.
