The Nigerian Senate has summoned the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, airline operators, and other stakeholders to address the persistent issues of flight delays and cancellations plaguing the country’s aviation sector.
This decision followed a motion presented by Senator AbdulFatai Buhari, Chair of the Senate Committee on Aviation, during Wednesday’s session. Highlighting widespread media reports and public complaints, Buhari expressed concern over the negative socio-economic impact of unreliable air travel, which he described as essential for timely business, official duties, and other critical engagements.
“Unnecessary flight delays and cancellations undermine our efforts toward economic diversification and foreign direct investment,” Buhari said, emphasizing the importance of a robust and reliable aviation sector in fostering national development.
The NCAA, empowered by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Act, is tasked with ensuring airlines operate within international standards. However, enforcement of consumer protection regulations under Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations of 2023 has been inadequate, leaving many Nigerians unaware of their rights to compensation for delays.
Senate members, including Senator Tahir Monguno, Senator Abba Moro, and Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, supported the motion, calling for immediate action. The Senate’s engagement seeks to uncover the root causes of the delays and cancellations while ensuring accountability and improved customer service within the aviation sector.
Keyamo, Najomo, and other stakeholders are expected to appear before the Senate to propose solutions and discuss strategies to restore efficiency and reliability to air travel in Nigeria.
