Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) says it will henceforth suspend, fine and carry out other regulatory actions against foreign airlines who sell tickets to passengers only to airlift them halfway their destinations and deport them back to Nigeria.
The NCAA, in a statement, signed by the Director of Consumer Protection and Public Affairs, Michael Achimugu, said the actions, which involve the refusal of boarding/entry of intermediate/ transit stops to some Nigerians due to visa/travel restrictions, are causing significant distress to passengers and tarnishing the reputation of the aviation industry in Nigeria.
Achimugu, who said the Agency had received several complaints about the issue that has caused pain to travellers, noted that the NCAA finds such policies completely unacceptable, further describing it as the responsibility of airlines to inform passengers about any potential barriers to their admissibility at their destinations before they commence their travel.
He further stated that passengers must not be put in a position where they are denied entry or returned to Nigeria only on arrival at international/transit stops.
He reiterated that informing passengers of any potential admissibility issues or travel restrictions in advance of their departure, is in line with the provision of Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations 2023 Part 19.21.1.1, which stated that all airlines and their agents shall ensure that passengers are informed .
Consequently, the NCAA has informed international airlines operating in Nigeria that it would no longer tolerate the occurrences, adding that effective, any airline found to be engaging in such practices will be subject to regulatory action, including but not limited to fines, suspension of flight operations or other measures deemed appropriate”.
About The Author
