The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced it will impose penalties on airlines that engage in misleading departure schedules.
In a statement issued on July 9, Chris Najomo, the acting director-general of the NCAA, warned airlines to cease this practice or face severe regulatory actions. Michael Achimugu, the NCAA’s director of public affairs and consumer protection, emphasized the authority’s zero-tolerance policy towards regulatory infractions.
“Facilitating ease of doing business is central to the director-general’s action plan for the NCAA. In line with this plan, we have streamlined the licensing process for operators,” Achimugu stated. “The time required to secure an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) is now significantly shorter and less burdensome. The NCAA expects airlines to reciprocate by providing world-class services to passengers.”
Najomo noted that if the NCAA is creating a business-friendly environment for operators, it is incumbent upon these operators to deliver exceptional services to passengers. “We have received reports of some airlines advertising misleading departure times. NCAA regulations prohibit airlines from displaying deceitful departure times at counters, in advertisements, or on websites,” he said. “The director-general has mandated strict monitoring, and violators will face serious regulatory consequences.”
The NCAA is committed to safety, discipline, and economic regulation, which is reflected in the recent suspension of 10 permits for non-commercial flight (PHCF) holders who failed to comply with recertification advisories issued in April.
Najomo highlighted the NCAA’s ongoing efforts to improve the ease of doing business. “Our high score on the Presidential Enabling Business Council (PEBEC) ranking, where we recently achieved 98.5%, underscores our commitment. This builds on our commendable score of 71.04% in this year’s ICAO Security Audit,” he said. “We will continue to enhance the safety and security of the industry for passengers and stakeholders.”
Regarding the refund process, Najomo insisted that all refunds must be processed without undue delay and completed within 14 working days, regardless of the ticket purchase method.
On the suspension of PHCF licenses for 10 operators, Najomo explained that these operators had been advised to begin the recertification process in April but failed to comply, leaving the NCAA no choice but to take punitive action.
 has announced it will impose penalties on airlines that engage in misleading departure schedules.){kind=link}