The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a stern warning to domestic airlines, cautioning that severe sanctions await any operator that fails to comply with current passenger compensation laws under the Civil Aviation Act (CAA) 2022.
In a statement by Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, the NCAA reaffirmed that the Montreal Convention of 1999, which was domesticated through the CAA 2022, is now fully binding on all airlines operating in Nigeria.
The Convention modernised global air travel rules by clearly defining airline responsibilities in cases of passenger injury or death, baggage or cargo loss, damage, and flight delays.
The NCAA expressed concern that some domestic carriers still rely on the outdated Warsaw Convention or calculate compensation based on baggage weight, practices deemed unlawful under Nigeria’s current aviation framework.
“The NCAA regulates the industry, and the Civil Aviation Act 2022 along with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 2023 remain sacrosanct,” Achimugu stated. “Any airline that fails to apply the proper laws in handling passenger baggage or compensation issues will face heavy penalties going forward.”
The regulator stressed that full compliance with the Montreal Convention is mandatory and that it will not hesitate to sanction violators. The move underscores the NCAA’s renewed commitment to protecting passenger rights and restoring confidence in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
