Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, NCAA, Michael Achimugu
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has said flight delays and cancellations in the sector have reduced compared to the last quarter of 2025 due to a post-festive drop in passenger traffic but warned that passengers may witness a rise in disruption as the rainy season approaches.
Speaking at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport l, Lagos on Wednesday, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, NCAA, Michael Achimugu, described recent performance figures as “encouraging, saying: ‘the numbers are impressive and encouraging, especially because immediately after the festive period, there was a drop in the number of passengers. The number of disruptions I just checked last week has improved compared to the last quarter of last year. However, we are entering the rainy season as well, so there’s an expectation that there will be disruptions.”
The Director attributed flight disruptions to a range of operational challenges but expressed optimism about future improvements, citing outcomes from the recent Aircraft Acquisition Summit hosted by the Minister of Aviation.
According to him, new aircraft acquisitions and signed deals are expected to strengthen airline capacity and reliability.
“However, take note that there are other factors that cause these disruptions. And recently, the Minister hosted the Aircraft Acquisition Summit and the report from that, the result from that event is very encouraging.
“2026 will be a better year for aviation in Nigeria as per flight disruptions because more aircraft are coming in. Deals have been signed already. “, he added.
On passenger complaints, Achimugu said travellers are increasingly using the NCAA’s complaint portal, although some still face challenges navigating the system.
He noted that alternative channels such as email and social media remain active for consumer engagement.
“They are making good use of the portal. Although there are some passengers who find it difficult to navigate the portal when they don’t fill all the mandatory fields., so they are unable to submit. That’s why we still have the emails working and then, of course, social media.”
Addressing allegations by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission that some airlines engaged in price fixing, Achimugu said his office had not received the commission’s report and therefore could not comment on its findings.
He reiterated his earlier position rejecting claims by some operators that rising airfares were primarily driven by taxes.
“ Well, the FCCPC did not submit reports to my office. So I don’t know what they found out. All I know is that in December, I disagreed with the reason for the hike in airfares as stated by some operators. You know, they alleged that it was due to taxes. I didn’t agree with that and I still stand by that.”.
Achimugu also highlighted a communication gap between airlines and passengers, stressing the need for better public awareness of operational realities in the sector.
He called for stronger collaboration between airlines and the NCAA to educate travellers on the causes of disruptions and industry challenges.
“There is always a gap between what is happening in reality and what passengers understand. Airlines need to do more to inform and educate the public,” he said.
He added that while the NCAA has continued to support airlines by disseminating information, operators also have a responsibility to engage passengers through their own communication channels.
